CHATHAM COUNTY, N.C. -- A Chatham County environmental watch group says the Rocky River and much of its marine life are is in danger from toxic chemicals from Siler City’s wastewater plant.

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An environmental group called Friends of the Rocky River says that the Rocky River is being affected by toxic chemicals, sediments, fecal coli form bacteria and heavy metals. F.O.R.R. president Sonny Keisler said some of the pollution comes from agricultural activities, reduced rain fall and urban runoff but a great portion of the pollution is coming from Siler City’s wastewater treatment plant.

 

“They need to upgrade the waste water treatment plant in Siler City so it has advanced technology and can remove the vast majority of nitrogen, phosphorus and other toxic chemicals,” Keisler said.

 

More than 80 percent of the river runs through Chatham County and F.O.R.R. claims the upper portion of the river that is north of Siler City has far less contaminants than the water that flows downstream from Siler City through southern Chatham County.

 

Biologist John Alderman is backing Keisler’s claims that the river is suffering from contaminants by studying the river's marine life. Alderman said there are more than 30 fish species in the river and two of the species, including the Carolina Darter and the Cape Fear Shiner, are in danger of extinction due to toxins in the water.

 

“As long as they can exist in the water, we can be assured of clean healthy water for our own consumption...," he said. "We’re loosing these animals from Chatham County. We are loosing them from many places throughout the entire Cape Fear River basin,”

 

Siler City Town Manager Joel Brower said the town’s waste water treatment plant is operating according to state regulations and that it was unfair to blame the town’s wastewater system for the condition of the river.

 

“Samples are being taken and we are doing what the state says that we need to do and our plant is compliant,” Brower said.

 

Brower said the town switched to a new wastewater system back in the early 1990s to be in compliance with state regulations and is now awaiting a new permit from the state to continue treating waste water.

 

A public hearing on the issue is scheduled for April 17 in Siler City. Fore more information about the Rocky River and the Friends of the Rocky River, log onto www.rockyriverchatham.org