OCR Text |
Show The Situation The Alabama-Coosa River system receives the wastes of 157 communities and industrial plants. The wastes reaching surface waters are reported to be equivalent to the raw sewage from 510,000 people. One-fourth of these wastes is from indus- tries. These industrial wastes contain various or- ganic materials as well as toxic and otherwise objec- tionable substances such as phenols, dyes, and other complex compounds detrimental to subsequent uses of the water. Nine metropolitan areas in the basin discharge domestic and industrial wastes with a total estimated population equivalent of 374,350 (domestic waste 272,500; industrial waste 101,850) or 75 percent of the total estimated amount of pollution contributed to the stream. The streams receiving these wastes are polluted for varying distances below the outfall, depending on the ability of the stream to purify it- self. The presence of these wastes constitutes a problem to water users. The possibility of abating pollution of interstate character under the Federal Water Pollution Con- trol Act 2 is relevant in connection with waste out- lets entering the streams of the basin in Georgia and restricting the uses of water in Alabama. With the enactment of new water pollution con- trol legislation in 1947, Alabama has started a State-wide program of pollution control. It has completed a reconnaissance of all its streams and is now making detailed studies of wastes discharged to river systems. With this information the State will develop, in cooperation with adjoining States and Federal agencies, a program of water pollution con- trol for the fullest and most economical use of waters of the State. This type of information is not available for the part of the basin which lies outside of Alabama and Tennessee. Georgia has no water pollution control legisla- tion per se. It relies on the application of the com- mon law doctrine of riparian rights and the regu- lations of the State Department of Public Health which is responsible for protecting public water supply. Its water pollution control program has not been developed on a State-wide or river basin plan but has been handled as a series of individual problems. Conclusions Pollution control should be an integral part of a comprehensive plan for development of the Ala- * Act of June 30, 1948, § 2, 62 Stat. 1155, 33 U. S. G. 466a (Supp. III). bama-Coosa Basin. Complete pollution informa- tion is of prime importance to the development of such a plan. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act estab- lishes a pattern for cooperative effort for com- prehensive water development and use programs. However, satisfactory pollution control under pres- ent Federal laws can only be achieved with full cooperation of all State pollution control agencies and the Federal Government. If, after trial, the aims of this law are not attained, it should be strengthened to protect the water users and to con- serve water supplies. Provision should be made for pollution abate- ment measures in connection with Federal water resources projects, where required, to supplement local pollution control programs when and as re- quired in the national interest. Added storage in reservoirs for flow dilution should be provided. Those contributing pollution to the stream should assume the cost of such storage. 3. Regulating Stream Flow for Hydroelectric Power and Its Relation to Generating Plants The Problem The extent to which the Federal Government should participate in works primarily for produc- tion of hydroelectric power and for regulating stream flow in the interest of downstream public and private power users. The Situation The approved plan of the Corps of Engineers for the Alabama-Coosa Basin includes 11 reser- voirs which would be primarily useful for hydro- electric power production at the dams. These proposed reservoirs are to be on the headwaters and tributary streams, where navigation is im- practicable and where the lack of downstream flood damages makes costly flood control measures un- necessary. Some of these reservoirs are so isolated that their recreation potentials may not soon be realized. They do, however, have certain values for recreation and for fish and wildlife. The plan also includes four tributary reservoirs, Ellijay, Big Canoe, Yellowleaf, and Weogufka, whose primary purpose would be regulation of stream flow to generate power at downstream plants. Water from the Ellijay Reservoir would flow into the contemplated Cartecay Reservoir, then pass 549 |