Add It Up: E. coli in the Chattahoochee
Bacteria considered 'canary in the coal mine' for river's overall health rose to dangerous levels during recent floods
Gallons of water the city's R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center along the Chattahoochee River treats daily: 180 million
Height of flood water, in feet, that swamped the R.M. Clayton plant on Sept. 22, knocking it offline: 4
Approximate number of hours the plant was unable to treat wastewater and sewage: 24
Estimated cost to repair the flooded wastewater plant, in dollars : 52 million
E. coli colony count, per 100 mL, detected in the Chattahoochee near West Paces Ferry Road one week before the flood: 75
E. coli colony count, per 100 mL, in the same location one day after the flood: 14,000
Number of E. coli colonies at which the Environmental Protection Agency considers water "high risk": 235
Percentage increase of the E. coli colony count at the R.M. Clayton plant because of the flood: 18,567
Sources: AJC.com, CDC, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, U.S. Geological Survey