S. HEATHER DUNCAN reports that a federal loan of $2 million to Monroe County will finally be able to provide water to the entire area where many home wells are polluted by uranium. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority announced that the loan, which is funneled to the county through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, would extend water lines to Pea Ridge, Taylor and Dames Ferry roads. But County Commissioner Patsy Miller, who represents the area, said most of those extensions have already been done, and the new loan will extend water lines to five feeder roads that were not yet covered, including some homes with the worst pollution.
State public health officials who studied the Juliette water contamination reported no evidence showing that it is not occurring naturally, although dozens of area residents filed lawsuits against Georgia Power last year asserting that Plant Scherer, a coal-fired power plant in Juliette operated by the company, has contributed to the problem. Georgia Power has long denied any connection. Uranium occurs naturally in the bedrock of the Piedmont region. Uranium and other heavy metals can also be a byproduct of burning some types of coal.
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