PFAS Archives - Coosa River Basin Initiative

PUBLIC COMMENTS: EPA Moves to Weaken PFAS Limits in Drinking Water

July 14, 2026

EPA has proposed two rules to weaken PFAS limits in drinking water. The deadline to submit written comments is Monday, July 20. BACKGROUND: In 2024, EPA finalized drinking water regulations that covered 6 PFAS compounds (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO–DA [GenX], and PFBS). Utilities were given a 5-year runway to make appropriate plans to come into compliance with these drinking water limits by 2029 – this is the maximum amount of time permitted for compliance with a Safe Drinking Water…

Clean up of harmful PFAS pollution promised in northwest Georgia Coosa River Basin Initiative, SELC, settle federal case against city of Calhoun

August 8, 2024

Advocacy, Press Releases, Water Monitoring

Press release from the Southern Environmental Law CenterFor immediate release: August 8, 2024Contact:Jesse Demonbruen-Chapman, Coosa River Basin Initiative, 706-232-2724,jesse@coosa.orgTerah Boyd, Southern Environmental Law Center, 678-234-7990, tboyd@selcga.org ROME, Ga. — In one of the most comprehensive settlements of its kind in the nation,the city of Calhoun has agreed to take meaningful steps to protect northwest Georgia’swater supply from years of widespread PFAS pollution. Represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, Coosa River Basin Initiativeagreed to resolve a federal lawsuit against the…

Groups sue to stop PFAS pollution in northwest Georgia

February 27, 2024

Advocacy, Press Releases, Water Monitoring

Groups plan lawsuit to stop PFAS pollution in northwest Georgia Coosa River Basin Initiative, SELC, plan to sue the city of Calhoun in federal court ROME, Ga. — On behalf of Coosa River Basin Initiative, the Southern Environmental Law Center filed a lawsuit against the city of Calhoun in Federal District Court for violating federal law and allowing harmful pollutants in drinking water. Calhoun’s wastewater treatment plant is polluting the region with PFAS in two ways:discharging PFAS directly to the Coosawattee River…

Coosa River Basin Initiative and Coosa Riverkeeper Join Forces to Monitor PFAS Contamination in the Coosa River Basin

January 25, 2024

Advocacy, Press Releases, Water Monitoring

In response to growing concerns about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their potential impact on public health, Coosa River Basin Initiative (CRBI) and Coosa Riverkeeper are pleased to announce their collaboration on a crucial project aimed at monitoring PFAS contamination in the Coosa River Basin in Georgia and Alabama. PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used in various industries for their stain resistant and flame retardant properties. Unfortunately, these persistent chemicals have been linked to potential health risks…

Georgia textile mill agrees to stop PFAS pollution

May 11, 2023

Advocacy, Press Releases

Coosa River Basin Initiative, SELC reach resolution to protect downstream communities ROME, Ga. — In a victory for the health of Georgia’s Chattooga River, Alabama’s Weiss Lake, and downstream communities, a major textile mill in northwest Georgia has committed to permanently cease the use of PFAS and take action to reduce water pollution. Located on the Chattooga River, the textile mill discharged wastewater polluted with per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the municipal wastewater treatment plant in Trion, Georgia. Because…

Rome News Tribune Article Covers Beginning Stages of CRBI’s PFAS chemical testing

March 17, 2023

Coverage, Water Monitoring

Rome News Tribune published an article that gives a great overview of CRBI’s plans for a multi-year study to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama. While it is clear that many of the waterways in our watershed are contaminated by PFAS chemicals from upstream manufacturers, the extent of the contamination is yet to be verified. We will be collaborating with Coosa Riverkeeper in Alabama to test sites and Cyclopure, a company in California to…