HCWA and Henry County Stormwater host Henry County Rivers Alive

HCWA and Henry County Stormwater host Henry County Rivers Alive
Annual cleanup removes 3,300 pounds of trash from a site near Tussahaw Creek

    (Locust Grove, GA – Oct. 13, 2026) Approximately 20 volunteers and employees from the Henry County Water Authority (HCWA) and Henry County Stormwater removed 3,300 pounds of trash from a site near Tussahaw Creek during this year’s Henry County Rivers Alive cleanup.

    The theme of this year’s Henry County Rivers Alive was “Be the solution to water pollution!”

    “It’s always unfortunate to see how much trash people intentionally leave behind, but thankfully, our community comes together every year to overcome those challenges to clean up our environment and preserve it for the future,” says Lindsey Sanders, HCWA Communications and Regulatory Coordinator. “There will always be pollution, but I’m grateful there also will always be good people who care enough to make an impact and be good stewards of our resources.”

    Henry County Rivers Alive is an official event of the Georgia Rivers Alive Campaign, which was established in 1999 as Georgia’s Annual Waterway Cleanup. Rivers Alive is an outreach program of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD), which targets creeks, streams, rivers, lakes/reservoirs, beaches, and wetlands across the state.

    The mission of the Georgia Rivers Alive campaign is to create awareness of and involvement in the preservation of Georgia’s water resources.

    The cleanup site near the intersection of Leguin Mill Road and Sunset Drive in Locust Grove is significant because pollution from this area can potentially impact the water quality of nearby Tussahaw Creek, which feeds the Tussahaw Reservoir – one of the five drinking water reservoirs owned and operated by the HCWA. The Tussahaw Reservoir provides raw water for drinking water production at the Tussahaw Water Treatment Plant.

    “For my first River’s Alive event, everything was amazing,” says Isaiah Gordon, an Inspector with Henry County Stormwater Management. “There’s a lot to learn about the ecosystem, and this is the first step for those just wanting to get back outside, help your community, and meet some fun, enjoyable people for a great time.”

    Trash and debris not only negatively impact local water quality, but they increase the cost of drinking water production. In addition, they can entrap and strangle wildlife or transfer high concentrations of toxins when ingested by animals.

    The estimated time it takes for some products to decompose if not disposed of properly is staggering, according to Authority officials, such as:

· Fishing Line: 600 years
· Plastic Bottles: 450 years
· Aluminum Cans: 200 years
· Plastic Bags: 1-20 years

    “The most common items we find are plastic and glass bottles and aluminum cans,” says Sanders. “Properly disposing of these items is a simple thing that goes a long way in preserving our natural resources and protecting our water quality.”

    More information on the annual Rivers Alive cleanup is available on the HCWA website at https://www.hcwa.com/business_detail_T6_R40.php, or by contacting the HCWA at 770-957-6659 or education@hcwa.com.

The 20 volunteers who participated in the annual Henry County Rivers Alive cleanup removed approximately 3,300 pounds of trash and debris from a site located near Tussahaw Creek in Locust Grove.