Monitoring at Phenix City’s wastewater treatment plant 

CRK staff are collecting water samples from Phenix City’s wastewater treatment plant more frequently after we received reports of undertreated sewage flowing from the plant’s outfall into the Chattahoochee River. Our testing has confirmed spikes in E. coli bacteria levels in the river immediately downstream of Phenix City and Columbus. It is important to note that water quality is NOT impacted in the whitewater course upstream of the plant. 

Recreators should exercise caution downstream of the plant’s discharge while the risk of harmful bacteria exposure is high. Avoid fully submerging underwater, wash your hands after contacting the water, and exercise particular caution with young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised.  

On July 16, CRK told the Phenix City Department of Public Utilities it would have 60 days to stop discharging illegal levels of pollution into the Chattahoochee River from the Phenix City Wastewater Treatment Plant or the group would file a lawsuit in federal court for violations of the federal Clean Water Act and the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act. A 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue is required under the Clean Water Act. If the city does not correct violations after 60 days, CRK will move forward with a federal lawsuit. Read more here.

We’ll provide updates as we continue to monitor this outfall and others in the Chattahoochee River Basin.