Mercedes Mullins
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have been the primary energy source since the Industrial Revolution. However, their use has taken a toll on the environment, including the pollution of waterways. The extraction and burning of fossil fuels release toxic substances that contaminate nearby water sources, such as rivers and lakes, threatening aquatic life and the health of those who rely on these water sources. In Georgia, the specific impacts of fossil fuel pollution on waterways are yet to be explored, but with the prevalence of fossil fuel usage, it is an issue that requires urgent attention to protect the state's water resources and ecosystems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Waterways in Georgia polluted by fossil fuels | Okefenokee Swamp, Floridan Aquifer, Abercorn Creek, Altamaha River, Conasauga River |
| Cause of pollution | Oil refineries, pulp mills, mining, drilling, burning dirty energy, wastewater from factories, microplastics, PFAS, agricultural waste |
| Impact | Killing aquatic animals, feeding harmful algae, dangerous for humans, health and environmental dangers, cancer, birth defects, neurological damage, ecological damage |
| Action | Georgia Water Coalition's Dirty Dozen Report to call for action from leaders and citizens to solve pollution problems, enforce Clean Water Act, upgrade definitions and legal limits, double down on accountability and enforcement |
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What You'll Learn
Coal ash and coal slurry leaks
Georgia Power, a private company, has been at the forefront of the issue of coal ash leaks in Georgia. In 2022, Georgia Power was close to getting final approval from the state to leave 48 million tons of coal ash buried in unlined ponds, despite evidence that contaminants were leaking out. Coal ash is the toxic waste that remains after burning coal, and it contains harmful chemicals that can cause cancer, developmental disorders, and reproductive issues. In addition, fly ash particles, a major component of coal ash, can trigger asthma, inflammation, and immunological reactions when lodged in the lungs.
The issue of coal ash leaks in Georgia is not new. In 2002, a sinkhole developed in the ash pond of the Georgia Power Company's Plant Bowen Facility, resulting in the release of 2.25 million gallons of ash and water mixture into an unnamed tributary of the Euharlee Creek. This incident caused a temporary degradation of public waters. Despite this, Georgia Power has been accused of skirting federal rules requiring the safe disposal of toxic coal ash. In one instance, the company convinced the state to let it bury toxic coal ash in groundwater, endangering the drinking water sources of nearby residents.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) is the regulatory body responsible for ensuring Georgia Power complies with environmental laws and regulations. However, there is concern that the EPD's plans do not adequately protect the health of all Georgians. Georgia Power's current plans involve excavating some ponds and moving the ash to lined landfills, but the majority of its toxic pollution will be covered up without a barrier to protect the state's groundwater. This method, called "capping in place," has been criticized by environmental groups.
The EPA, the federal regulatory agency, has also become involved in the issue of coal ash leaks in Georgia. In 2022, the EPA clarified that waste disposal sites cannot be closed with coal ash in contact with groundwater to ensure safe drinking water for communities. The EPA has asked the Georgia EPD to review the consistency of coal ash permits issued to Georgia Power with federal guidance. This action followed a joint investigation that found Georgia Power had long been aware of the potential dangers of its coal ash disposal methods to neighboring communities.
The impact of coal ash leaks extends beyond environmental concerns. The cleanup of coal ash creates good-paying jobs, permanently repairs local groundwater, and stimulates economic prosperity for the affected communities. However, the failure to adequately address the issue can have severe consequences, as evidenced by the experiences of residents like Gloria Hammond, who has had to rely on alternative sources for clean drinking water due to unsafe levels of contaminants in her well water.
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Drilling, fracking, and mining wastewater
Oil refineries release billions of pounds of pollution into waterways each year, and this pollution is concentrated near communities of colour. In Georgia, fossil fuels are essential to energy production at power-generating facilities. Almost all of the water used in the 17% of water for energy production comes from Georgia's rivers.
The centralised wastewater management concept is gaining momentum in the U.S. and is being integrated with alternative sources of water, such as abandoned mines, stormwater control basins, and municipal treatment plant effluent. This is in alignment with mandates from Pennsylvania's SRBC and its Department of Environmental Protection, which emphasise the reuse of water for fracking and the use of other waters, such as treated wastewater and acidic mine drainage.
The development of an integrated infrastructure for water management in shale oil and gas production has lagged, and the need for centralised treatment of wastewater is becoming more urgent with the expansion of the fracking industry. Centralised treatment of wastewater is a viable solution for long-term efficiency in managing water sourcing and wastewater treatment in hydraulic fracturing.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is an advanced technology used to enhance the flow of energy from a well after drilling is complete. This process involves sending a mixture of water, sand, and additives into a deep-rock formation at high pressure. After fracturing, the water returns to the surface as "flowback" or wastewater. This wastewater contains bacteria, minerals, radioactive materials, and oil and gas. The wastewater needs to be recycled, treated, or disposed of through underground injection.
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Air pollution and acid rain
Fossil fuels are a major contributor to air pollution and acid rain. The burning of fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into the atmosphere, which are the primary causes of acid rain. These pollutants can spread over long distances and affect areas far from the sources of emission. Oil refineries, in particular, have been highlighted as significant contributors to water pollution in Georgia, with regulatory data revealing that they release billions of pounds of pollution into waterways each year. This pollution includes heavy metals, nitrogen compounds, and other toxins that can kill aquatic animals, promote harmful algae growth, and render waterways unsafe for human activities such as fishing and swimming.
Acid rain occurs when sulfuric and nitric acids formed in the atmosphere mix with precipitation, such as rain, snow, fog, or hail, and fall to the ground. This phenomenon is known as wet deposition. Additionally, acidic particles and gases can deposit from the atmosphere without moisture through dry deposition, which can be challenging and costly to measure. Acid rain has detrimental effects on the environment, particularly aquatic ecosystems such as lakes, streams, and wetlands. It increases the acidity of water bodies, leading to higher aluminum absorption from the soil, which is then carried into lakes and streams. This process makes the water toxic to aquatic life, disrupting the interconnected food chain.
The Clean Air Act of 1990 in the United States targeted acid rain by implementing pollution limits. As a result, sulfur dioxide emissions were reduced by 88% between 1990 and 2017, and nitrogen dioxide emissions decreased by 50% during the same period. These efforts have helped ecosystems, such as New England's red spruce forests and certain fish populations, recover from acid rain damage. However, recovery is a gradual process, and the stabilization of nutrient levels in soils in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada has only recently been observed.
To combat air pollution and acid rain effectively, it is essential to reduce the burning of fossil fuels and establish comprehensive air-quality standards. Georgia's reliance on fossil fuels for energy production, particularly in data centers, has been noted as a strain on the state's rivers. The state's endorsement of itself as the "No. 1 state for business" may be at odds with the reality of its polluted waterways, as highlighted in the Georgia Water Coalition's "Dirty Dozen" report. This report calls for leaders and citizens to address ongoing pollution issues and implement corrective policies to protect Georgia's economy and ecosystems.
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Destruction of wildlife habitats
Fossil fuels are a major contributor to the biodiversity crisis, where the web of species and ecosystems that support life on Earth is collapsing. At every stage of their lifecycle, fossil fuels directly contribute to biodiversity loss by causing pollution, planet-warming carbon emissions, and the destruction of critical habitats.
The extraction phase of fossil fuel exploitation has two main impacts on biodiversity. Firstly, it directly affects biodiversity through the conversion, degradation, pollution, or disturbance of habitats at extraction sites. Secondly, it indirectly impacts biodiversity by increasing access for loggers, farmers, hunters, and settlements. These impacts extend beyond terrestrial organisms to affect below-ground, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. After extraction, the distribution, refinement, and use of fossil fuels once again directly impact biodiversity through habitat destruction, infrastructure development, and pollution.
The exploration process for fossil fuels can also impact biodiversity through habitat conversion and noise pollution from drilling exploratory wells and surveying. For example, in Georgia, almost all of the water used in the 17% of water for energy production comes from the state's rivers. This heavy usage strains Georgia's rivers, which are already polluted by black discharge from the Jesup pulp mill, noticeable by its smell and discoloration in the water.
Additionally, oil spills from fossil fuel extraction, transportation, and refining can harm wildlife and destroy habitats. The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon spill, the largest in history, released 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, killing countless birds, turtles, fish, marine mammals, and plants. Similarly, in Georgia, the Okefenokee Swamp, the largest blackwater wetland in North America, is at risk of drought conditions and wildfires due to human activities.
The continued use of fossil fuels is causing a loss of habitat for species such as wolverines, which require deep snowpack to dig their dens and raise their young. Climate change puts them at immediate risk, and unless governments transition to clean energy, scientists estimate that wolverines will lose nearly a third of their range in the lower 48 states by 2050.
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Toxic metals in waterways
Toxic metal pollution in water sources is a significant worldwide environmental issue, threatening aquatic ecosystems and human health. Metals enter water bodies through the air, water, and soil. Metals are also transported to surface waters via stormwater runoff from roadways, parking lots, waste sites, mines, and land where metal-containing sludge, fertilizers, and pesticides have been applied.
Sources of heavy metal pollution in water include mining waste, leachates from landfills, municipal and industrial wastewater, urban runoff, and natural events such as volcanism, weathering, and rock abrasion. Heavy metals can contaminate drinking water through household plumbing, mining operations, petroleum refineries, and electronic manufacturers. Specific heavy metals include arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, inorganic mercury, nickel, selenium, and zinc, which can cause acute and chronic toxicity, organ damage, anemia, and cancer.
Oil refineries, including those associated with fossil fuels, are major contributors to water pollution, releasing billions of pounds of pollutants, including heavy metals, into waterways each year. Regulatory data reveals that pollution from refineries is often concentrated near communities of color. In Georgia, the Altamaha River, Abercorn Creek, and the Okefenokee Swamp are among the waterways facing significant pollution issues, with the latter being threatened by mining activities.
To address the challenges of toxic metal pollution in aquatic systems, regular monitoring of water sources and the implementation of mitigation measures are essential. Various treatment options for heavy metal removal are available, and sustainable solutions are being developed to reduce the environmental impact of these contaminants.
Frequently asked questions
Burning fossil fuels releases nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which eventually find their way into bodies of water. This contributes to harmful algal blooms, oxygen-deprived aquatic zones, and the poisoning of freshwater sources.
Mining and drilling for fossil fuels destroy animal habitats, and the increased ocean acidity from carbon pollution threatens marine life.
Polluted waterways caused by fossil fuels have been linked to various health issues, including cancer, birth defects, neurological damage, and respiratory issues.
