The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

November 30, 2009

DEP study illuminates severe Greenbrier River algae problems

The Greenbrier River has the most severe algae problems of all rivers included in a two-year study by the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection.

The Greenbrier River Watershed Association hosted a public meeting Nov. 19 at which the DEP’s James Summers discussed his study.

According to Summers, the algae problems are originating at several sewage treatment discharges along the Greenbrier River. He said algae is thriving where phosphorus from the sewage treatment discharges is dissolved into the water.

The DEP has put Hillsboro and White Sulphur sewage treatment plants on notice that they will have to meet stricter requirements for phosphorus over the next three years.

Other plants, such as Marlinton, Ronceverte and Alderson, will also have to meet stricter limits as their permits come up for review. The DEP’s goal is to have the water quality standard of phosphorus be set at 8-10 ppm for the Greenbrier River.

Hillsboro and White Sulphur have appealed the DEP’s decision to the West Virginia Environmental Quality Board, saying they cannot afford to clean up their effluent to fix the problem.

If the water quality standard is approved by the Environmental Quality Board, updates to the sewer treatment plants along the river would be would be required over several years. These updates would clean up the 50 miles of river currently being affected by the algae problem Over a three-year period the updates would achieve a 60 to 65 percent reduction in the river’s phosphorus levels and the algae problem.

For more information concerning the DEP’s research on the Greenbrier River algae problem go to the Greenbrier River Watershed Association Web site at www.greenbrier.org to read the full report and power point presentation.

Summers has agreed to present his information to any organization that desires it. Contact the Greenbrier River Watershed Association office at 304-647-4792 or e-mail at greenbrierwatershed@yahoo.com for further information.

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