Spiked levels of manganese in treated water have forced the shutdown of the South Fayette Water Treatment Plant, and this morning the manganese levels were higher as well at the county’s only other water treatment plant, the Crosstown facility in Peachtree City.
At an emergency meeting today, the Fayette County Commission voted to spend $10,000 to have a consulting firm work on remedies to the issue so the South Fayette plant can begin to produce water again. The firm, CH2M Hill Engineers, is familiar with the water system having worked on fixing the smelly water issues that plagued the county for several weeks earlier this summer.
Water System Director Tony Parrott said the high levels of manganese in the water system cause the water to look murky, but it is safe to drink.
Commission Chairman Steve Brown said after the meeting that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has traced the higher levels of manganese to Lake Kedron, one of the county’s four reservoirs.
Brown during the brief commission meeting expressed disdain that the commission was not notified of the shutdown of water production at the South Fayette plant or the water main break Tuesday in the area of Golfview Drive in Peachtree City.
Brown has said he and his fellow board members are angry about the lack of notification, and the county may be in trouble with EPD for failing to notify the agency about the water main break.
The South Fayette water treatment plant is located near Lake Horton.
