GREENE COUNTY
A $5,000 fine was levied against Piedmont Water, the major water and sewer utility company in Greene County, by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) following an investigation into a major raw sewage spill that occurred in late February this year. It prompted a lengthy investigation that resulted in the fine and mandatory action items outlined by the EPD.
The sewage spill dumped 270,000 gallons of raw sewage into Lake Oconee, leaving the community reeling with concern over Piedmont Water’s accountability to remedy the situation and enact measures to avoid a repeat. According to the EPD, any spillage in excess of 10,000 gallons is considered a major spill.
The spillage was discovered to have occurred at Piedmont’s Engh lift station at Reynolds. Reynolds alone has more than 20 lift stations of the approximate 71 stations Piedmont owns and manages in the area. Lift stations are used to move wastewater from lower to higher elevations within wet well systems. They are also known as pump stations and contain critical valves, pumps, and electrical equipment necessary to move waste solids and liquids.
According to Piedmont, either an incorrect setting was made in the parameter setting or an unexpected power surge rendered the system incapable of alerting technicians to the problem. According to Brett Hurst, Piedmont Water’s CEO, the system had been running for about two years with no problems.
According to the EPD, Piedmont followed policy by filing timely notice, erecting signage, monitoring water samples, and spreading lime on the spill. According to Jessica Mills, program manager for the EPD’s watershed protection division, water sample monitoring over the next two weeks showed that the sampling met safety standards.
The spill was just one of many complaints made about Piedmont Water, namely adequate pressure delivery, failing grinder systems in residential areas, customer service, billing, meters needing repair, and associated high water rates that have made the company a target for discourse in the county. A petition has circulated in social media to urge the Georgia legislature to regulate the rates and return on the investment of all private water and sewer companies in the state.
Piedmont Water is a privately owned utility that is only required to meet minimal water quality standards. It sets its own rate and profit margin which are, in some cases, negotiated with owners of large businesses and residential developments, such as Reynolds Lake Oconee.
With social media criticism continuing, Hurst last week held a series of meetings for residents of Reynolds Lake Oconee in which he explained how rates are set. It was an effort to outline improvements since Hurst joined the company four years ago.
Earlier he stated that customer service is key to the company and that Piedmont has made several improvements to its existing systems in the county and to improve outreach protocols.
“Water delivery can create challenges for us,” Hurst said. “We are constantly looking for improvements and ways to keep up with county growth. We also talk about the needs of the community and issues surrounding funding those needs.”
Hurst stated that over the five years, they have improved accountability by moving their customer service operations out of Atlanta to the lake area. They have streamlined the process and claim their service response level is at 92 percent. They have also replaced old, outdated concrete covers to manholes with fiberglass and raised water PH levels to better contain hydrogen sulfate gasses that have caused foul-smelling odors from surfacing.
Some plans were discussed and include expanding a water line from Reynolds to connect to a water system they own in the eastern part of Greene County. Additionally, they are preparing to expand capacity at the new Reynolds water plant from two million gallons per day to three million.