A Carrollton laboratory has found that the
Aeromonas hydrophila bacteria, the type that caused the flesh-eating bacterial
illness in University of West Georgia graduate student Aimee Copeland, is
present in normal levels in the Little Tallapoosa River.
“We did specific testing on the Little Tallapoosa River, both above and below the city’s wastewater treatment plant,” said Denny Ivey, spokesman for Environmental Labs and Services of Carrollton. “In comparison to other bacteria, it didn’t seem relatively high.”
Assistant City Manager Tim Grizzard said he ordered the tests soon after he became aware of Copeland’s illness. Copeland contracted the bacteria after she was injured May 1 in a fall from a zip line into the Little Tallapoosa.
Grizzard pointed out that while the city’s raw water supply comes from the river, this bacterial species is not found in the treated water that goes into customers’ lines.
“We have the highest technology water treatment plant in the country,” he said.
Carrollton’s water system recently won a Gold Award from the state’s division of the American Water Works Association for having highest water quality during 2011.
“It’s a very common bacteria in any surface water samples, especially when the weather gets warmer,” Ivey said Wednesday. “In everything I’ve read, it’s one of those things in the environment that will be found anywhere.”
Ivey said in the bacterial tests, conducted on May 14, the upstream test showed a bacterial count of 1,500 colonies per...
“We did specific testing on the Little Tallapoosa River, both above and below the city’s wastewater treatment plant,” said Denny Ivey, spokesman for Environmental Labs and Services of Carrollton. “In comparison to other bacteria, it didn’t seem relatively high.”
Assistant City Manager Tim Grizzard said he ordered the tests soon after he became aware of Copeland’s illness. Copeland contracted the bacteria after she was injured May 1 in a fall from a zip line into the Little Tallapoosa.
Grizzard pointed out that while the city’s raw water supply comes from the river, this bacterial species is not found in the treated water that goes into customers’ lines.
“We have the highest technology water treatment plant in the country,” he said.
Carrollton’s water system recently won a Gold Award from the state’s division of the American Water Works Association for having highest water quality during 2011.
“It’s a very common bacteria in any surface water samples, especially when the weather gets warmer,” Ivey said Wednesday. “In everything I’ve read, it’s one of those things in the environment that will be found anywhere.”
Ivey said in the bacterial tests, conducted on May 14, the upstream test showed a bacterial count of 1,500 colonies per...
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