On May 15, 2020, the City of Jasper self-reported to the State EPD the discovery of an unpermitted intake that caused a diversion of surface water from Long Swamp Creek into the Crystalline Aquifer more commonly known as the abandoned underground mine which provides water for part of the City’s permitted wells.

The EPD violation began, as best as can be determined, over 20 years ago and continued until discovered by the current city administration in 2020. Upon making the self report, the current City administration shut down the intake.

As a result of discovering the violation and the city immediately closing the unpermitted intake, the recharge rate at the mine has slowed and the City is unable to withdraw the permitted capacity. We have offset that water loss by purchasing water from our neighboring partners and actively seeking other sources.

The City also started the process with EPD, to properly permit the intake and use the mine for water storage as an underground reservoir. As a part of this process, EDP requested the consent order and which requires the City to provide certain information as a part of the permitting process. Since the May, 2020 self-reporting date, we have worked extensively with EPD to establish a working relationship with them to proceed forward with permitting the underground reservoir.

CONSENT ORDER (PDF) STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION

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