Sludge Watch ==> Georgia - Sewage sludge stuck in a public park

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin;

Hey...did WEF give a seminar on slopping sludge on public parks, or what?

Here is yet another case of an environmental cleanup required after sewage 
sludge is smeared on
a public park.

...................................................................................


Sludge sleuths catch city in a foul offense

By JOHN HOLLIS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/11/07


Leon Forrer receives plenty of calls about environmental problems, so he 
wasn't surprised when he heard about an illegal dump at a park in McDonough.

Forrer, a retired Delta Air Lines employee turned community activist, asked 
investigators with the state Environmental Protection Division to trace the 
source of the sludge spotted in a remote area of Richard Craig Park.

Guess who's responsible?

The city of McDonough. Actually, the head of the city's water treatment 
plant.

Taxpayers in this Henry County city are on the hook for the $15,000 cleanup.

Steve Cox, who heads the water treatment plant, figured it was OK to dump 
the waste in the park, said Billy Copeland, the mayor.

Cox didn't return telephone calls, but the mayor conceded the city was at 
fault in disposing of the solid waste in the 26-acre park — a popular 
gathering place for families and children who play on baseball fields, 
tennis and basketball courts, and picnic in the park's two pavilions.

"This should never happen again," Copeland said.

Remaining sludge has been moved to the Henry County Water and Recycling 
plant.

The state will revisit the site, and if it's not satisfied, the city could 
end up paying a fine.