Concerns about high levels of E. coli bacteria in the Chattahoochee River in the Atlanta vicinity are being raised by a consortium that includes the:
- National Park Service
- Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority
- Cobb County Water System
- Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and the
- Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
The Chattahoochee River BacteriAlert project says an E. coli bacteria count of 514 was registered at Medlock Bridge Road Park at 10:15 AM on Tuesday, May 7, 2013.
The Environmental Protection Agency has found that E. coli bacteria counts above 235 (colonies per 100 mL) are likely to cause sickness in 8 people out of 1,000 who come into contact with the water. Officials said young children, anyone with cuts on their skin or people with weak immune systems should not go in the water until the levels decrease.
The increased risk to the Chattahoochee is directly related to the recent rain that pushed some waterways in our area to flood levels.
It is important to note that E. coli predictions and prediction intervals are inaccurate when water released from Buford Dam exceeds 2,500 cubic feet per second for periods longer than four hours.
BacteriAlert information is available by calling 678-538-1201.
