For immediate release March 13, 2006

WATER CONTACT ADVISORY LIFTED ON SECTIONS OF SUGAR FORK AND
BIG BIGBY CREEKS IN MAURY COUNTY

Mt. Pleasant, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has lifted the water contact advisory for sections of Sugar Fork Creek and Big Bigby Creek in Maury County.

The advisory had been issued on March 1, 2006 as a precaution due to a failure in the Mt. Pleasant wastewater treatment collection system. Repairs to the manhole have been made and sampling results indicate that bacteria levels have returned to the levels present before the recent incident occurred that resulted in the water contact warning.

The public should remain aware, however, that the Mt. Pleasant sewage collection system does frequently overflow and that Sugar Fork and Big Bigby Creek from Sugar Fork to Highway 412 remain on the state list of impaired waters for elevated levels of bacteria for that reason.

This impaired waters list, called the 303(d) list, is a compilation of streams and lakes in Tennessee that are considered impaired by pollution and in need of additional controls. Once a stream has been placed on the list, it is considered to be a priority for water quality improvement efforts.

Problems with the operation of the Mt. Pleasant wastewater treatment system, including both its treatment plant and collection system, were documented in a January 2004 Commissioner's Order issued by Environment and Conservation. The city has met with the department to develop an agreement for addressing its violations that would require approval by the state Water Quality Control Board. Mt. Pleasant has also obtained financing to help address its infrastructure problems, and the department is anxious to see the system move forward with making improvements to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.

###

For more information contact:

Dana Coleman
(615) 253-1916 (Office)