#WaterQuality | AM 1180 Radio

October 7, 2026

Sewer Line Backup Sends Cooking-Based Oil Into Creek Near Lyerly Street

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #CityOfSummerville, #CreekPollution, #EnvironmentalProtection, #EPD, #GeorgiaEPD, #GeorgiaRugMill, #LyerlyStreet, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicSafety, #SewerBackup, #SummervilleFireDepartment, #summervillega, #SummervillePoliceDepartment, #Wastewater, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Summerville Police said Tuesday afternoon that city police and fire personnel were notified of a discolored material in the creek near Lyerly Street.

After consulting with other city departments, officials learned that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division had reported the material to the city earlier in the day, prompting personnel from Summerville’s Water and Sewer Department and Wastewater Treatment Plant to respond.

During the inspection, city crews identified a sewer line backup at a trucking facility on the former Georgia Rug Mill property. According to the city, a displaced manhole allowed some of the backed-up material to enter the creek.

City crews were able to vacuum up a quantity of the visible material from the creek and dispose of it at the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The trucking company told city officials that the substance was a cooking-based oil. City workers collected water samples for laboratory analysis and also sent samples to EPD.

Summerville Police said once the assessment of the incident and the material is complete, required regulatory reports will be submitted. At this time, ongoing monitoring is not expected to be necessary.

City officials thanked residents for reporting potential hazards and said the quick notification allowed crews to respond and address the situation.

September 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

EPD Investigating New Environmental Complaint At Chattooga County School Bus Garage

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #chattoogacountynews, #ChattoogaCountySchools, #ChattoogaInfo, #CityOfSummerville, #DieselFuel, #EducationNews, #EnvironmentalComplaint, #EnvironmentalInvestigation, #EnvironmentalProtectionDivision, #EPD, #GeorgiaEPD, #LocalNews, #MichelleHelie, #northwestgeorgia, #OilSpill, #PennStreet, #PublicSchools, #SchoolBusBarn, #SchoolBusGarage, #summervillega, #TransportationDepartment, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is investigating a new complaint involving the Chattooga County Schools Transportation Department, while Superintendent Michelle Helie says a similar complaint earlier this year was investigated and ultimately determined to be unfounded.

September 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Summerville PFAS Lawsuit Moves Forward Against Major Chemical Manufacturers

Local News, Local News Items #3M, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #Chemours, #CityOfSummerville, #CleanWater, #CommunityNews, #DaikinAmerica, #DrinkingWater, #DuPont, #EnvironmentalNews, #EnvironmentalProtection, #FederalCourt, #ForeverChemicals, #GeorgiaEPD, #LocalNews, #MountVernonMills, #NorthernDistrictofGeorgia, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PFAS, #PFASContamination, #PublicUtilities, #RaccoonCreek, #RomeGA, #summervillega, #SummervilleWater, #townoftrion, #trionga, #WaterCustomers, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A federal lawsuit over PFAS contamination of Summerville’s drinking water supply continues moving toward trial after a federal judge rejected efforts by major chemical manufacturers to dispose of significant portions of the case.

August 30, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Some Walker County Residents Can Get 60% Reimbursement For Septic Repairs

Local News, Local News Items #ChattanoogaCreek, #ChattanoogaCreekWatershed, #ChattoogaInfo, #CleanWater, #EnvironmentalHealth, #FinancialAssistance, #FlintstoneGA, #georgianews, #GrantFunding, #HighPointGA, #HomeImprovement, #Homeowners, #HomeRepair, #LimestoneValley, #LocalNews, #LookoutMountainGA, #LVRCD, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGeorgia, #PublicHealth, #RossvilleGA, #SepticRepair, #SepticSystem, #SepticTank, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyGA, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Some Walker County homeowners with failing septic systems may qualify to have 60% of the cost of repairs reimbursed through a new round of grant funding.

August 29, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

CRBI Continues Swim Guide Testing Through Labor Day, Including Chattooga River

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With summer temperatures continuing across Northwest Georgia, the Coosa River Basin Initiative is reminding residents to check water conditions before swimming, paddling or enjoying area rivers and lakes.

August 11, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

LaFayette Identifies Source Of Elevated E. Coli Levels At Queen City Lake

Local News, Local News Items #Bacteria, #BeachClosure, #ChattoogaInfo, #CityOfLaFayette, #EColi, #EnvironmentalHealth, #LaFayetteGA, #LakeClosure, #LocalNews, #NorthGeorgia, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicHealth, #PublicSafety, #QueenCityLake, #Swimming, #SwimmingArea, #WalkerCounty, #WalkerCountyGA, #WaterQuality, #WaterSafety, #WaterTesting, #WZQZ, #wzqznews, georgia 0

The City of LaFayette says it has identified the source of elevated E. coli levels that have kept the swimming area at Queen City Lake closed in recent weeks.

August 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Erin Brockovich Expands PFAS Testing Effort To Include Chattooga County

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #DrinkingWater, #EnvironmentalNews, #ErinBrockovich, #ForeverChemicals, #northwestgeorgia, #PFAS, #SoilTesting, #summervillega, #WaterQuality, #WaterTesting, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Consumer advocate Erin Brockovich is expanding efforts to investigate PFAS contamination in Northwest Georgia, with Chattooga County among six counties included in a new campaign offering water, soil, and dust testing for residents. The announcement comes as concerns continue to grow over the presence of PFAS—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—throughout the region.

August 5, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

What The PFAS Ruling Means For Summerville Water Customers

Local News, Local News Items #3M, #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #Chemours, #Daikin, #DrinkingWater, #DuPont, #EnvironmentalNews, #FederalCourt, #ForeverChemicals, #PFAS, #summervillega, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

As WZQZ News reported last week, a federal judge has cleared the way for thousands of current and former Summerville water customers to continue pursuing claims against several major chemical companies over costs connected to PFAS contamination in the city’s drinking water.

August 3, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Federal Judge Allows Georgia Residents to Seek PFAS Water Cleanup Cost Claims

Local News, Local News Items #chattoogacounty, #ChattoogaInfo, #EnvironmentalNews, #FederalCourt, #ForeverChemicals, #PFAS, #RaccoonCreek, #summervillega, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

A federal judge has ruled that residents in and around Summerville may continue pursuing claims seeking reimbursement for costs associated with cleaning up drinking water contaminated by PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.”

August 2, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Queen City Lake Beach To Remain Closed As E. Coli Investigation Continues

Local News, Local News Items #BeachClosure, #ChattoogaInfo, #EColi, #georgiadnr, #LaFayetteGA, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicHealth, #QueenCityLake, #QueenCityLakeBeach, #WalkerCountyGA, #WaterQuality, #WZQZ, #wzqznews 0

Queen City Lake Beach in LaFayette will remain closed into next week as city officials continue investigating elevated E. coli levels in the water.

The City of LaFayette says daily testing has been conducted in an effort to determine the source of the contamination. While E. coli levels remain elevated, officials say the testing patterns have been inconclusive. The city is expanding the testing area to collect additional data and develop a clearer picture of the problem.

City officials are also working with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for guidance concerning the non-native duck population around the lake, which may be contributing to the elevated bacteria levels.

Residents have also reported a sewer leak located some distance from the shoreline. The line is privately owned, and the city says the organization responsible for it has begun making repairs. That work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

Officials say they do not want to draw conclusions before the testing is complete and will continue collecting data while the beach remains closed.