Columbus faces lawsuit over pollution

Environmentalists with Chattachoochee RiverWatch say they have sent a notice of intent to sue the City of Columbus under the federal Clean Water Act. RiverWatch spokesman Bill Edwards says Ginger Creek was irreparably harmed when construction workers tried to divert the creek in order to repair a road washed out by heavy winter storms. "Basically, you had a mud hole. A huge mud hole. And you have to have a dry construction site. So, their solution to the mud hole was to pump the muddy water directly into Ginger Creek." The city of Columbus did attempt to fix the problem by installing a rock wall. However, Edwards says the damage has already been done. The only thing left to do, he says it to make the city pay.

Harris Cty. bans outside watering

The Harris County Water Works has placed a ban on all forms of outside water use until further notice.

The step comes one day after a public meeting in Columbus held by the Georgia State Environmental Protection Division, where the agency outlined a comprehensive state water management proposal.

Some 150 residents, state water officials and legislators commented on the plan, in a discussion session held at Columbus State University.

“I find that in the process of legislation, this is not a Republican or Democratic issue. This is an issue of those of us who are south of Atlanta and those that are north of Atlanta,” State Senator Seth Harp (R) told the group.

A series of local citizens and farmers, conservationists and eco-activists, business leaders, teachers and children cautioned against a part of the plan that would divert more water from the Chattahoochee River to Atlanta's growing needs, at the cost of downstream communities and ecosystems.

Tracy Spencer, board director of Chattahoochee River Watch said his group opposed so-called “inter-basin transfers,” saying they should not be considered an option in a statewide water plan.

The session is one of a series of meetings the State Environmental Protection Division is holding throughout Georgia.

The EPD wants to gather input and gauge the proposal's impact before a legislative vote on the plan next January.