GEORGETOWN, S.C. —  The City of Georgetown now has until April 1 to prove it is no longer allowing pollution to enter the Sampit River, or fines will be levied.

However, city officials have not ruled out taking the state to court in an effort to get a rule changed which, according to local leaders, would eliminate the problem.

As reported by the Georgetown Times last Monday, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) ruled  the city’s wastewater treatment facility discharged a bacteria called Enterococcus into the Sampit River during 10 different months between Jan. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009.

If the problem is not corrected, the city will be hit with major fines, the ruling states.

City Administrator Chris Eldridge and Lane Mixon, head of the Water Utilities Department, said the problem is not with the way the water is being cleaned. They say the pollution gets into the clean water while it is in a holding area waiting to be discharged into the river.

During a tour of the treatment facility last week, Eldridge and Mixon pointed out several dozen seagulls and some alligators that go into the retention pond. It is bodily waste from the birds and gators that cause the unacceptable increase in Enterococcus.

DHEC, Eldridge said, only allows the city to drain the retention pond into the river twice each day — when the tide is going out. It’s while the water is sitting waiting to be discharged that the pollution occurs, he said.

Eldridge said the city is weighing all its options and there is a possibility it will take DHEC to court to try to get a judge to allow the water to be discharged into the river around the clock. That, Eldridge said, would prevent the animals from contaminating the water.

Johnny Locklair, a lab technician in the treatment facility, said the problem wasn’t as bad during the past few months because Enterococcus is worse when water is warmer.

He also said the city has stocked the clean water pond with tilapia fish which are known for eating algae.

Locklair also said the DHEC allows a small amount of

Enterococcus in the water and the city has passed that limit only a few times.

The Georgetown Times attempted to get comments from DHEC.

Adam Myrick of the media relations department said it’s DHEC’s “standard practice to not discuss anything related to possible enforcement action.”

Eldridge said the situation will be discussed with City Council when they meet Thursday evening.