Georgia Water Coalition releases 'Dirty Dozen' report

The Georgia Water Coalition released its seventh annual "Dirty Dozen" report, highlighting 12... — The Georgia Water Coalition released its seventh annual "Dirty Dozen" report, highlighting 12 of the worst offenses to Georgia's waters. (Source: WALB)

Coosa River Basin Initiative Coordinator, Joe Cook (Source: WALB)

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Georgia's leading water advocacy organizations reported rollbacks of federal regulations were among the biggest threats to Peach State waterways.

The Georgia Water Coalition released its seventh annual Dirty Dozen report, highlighting 12 of the worst offenses to Georgia's waters.

High on this year's list were rollbacks to clean water protections — a recurring theme since the first Dirty Dozen report was released in 2011.

For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency delayed new rules limiting pollution from coal-fired power plants, which allows toxins like mercury and lead to be dumped into Georgia waterways.

At the state level, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division has limited funding and resources.

"Citizens all over the state need to be concerned that these federal rollbacks are going to impact the rivers and streams where they fish, where they swim, where they get their drinking water," said Coosa River Basin Initiative Coordinator Joe Cook.

But there was one big victory in Georgia Water Coalition Dirty Dozen report.

In August, a federal district court ruled the environmental impact study on the Sabal Trail pipeline was "inadequate."

That court ruling set a precedent to halt or delay other pipeline projects elsewhere.

You can read the entire report here.

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