March 23, 2017 – The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has approved a Regional Water Plan Seed Grant for the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology to study sources of bromide in the Ocmulgee River. The cash grant of $58,699 will be matched by $44,095 in services from the University of Georgia and a $12,420 cash contribution from the Authority.
The purpose of this project is to initiate an intensive bromide monitoring program to identify the sources of small, but increasing, bromide concentrations in Butts County’s raw water supply. This will be a one of the first intensive surface water bromide monitoring programs in Georgia. The study will take place over a two-year period and will monitor bromide in all major streams that feed into Jackson Lake and the Ocmulgee River north of the Authority’s intake on the river.