News 12 at 6 o'clock / Wednesday, September 8, 2010

AUGUSTA---As the second annual Iron Man competition approached, during which thousands will swim across the Savannah River, high levels of fecal matter were found in the water. It puzzled the city of Augusta for weeks. Today, News 12 was there as the city discovered one source of the problem.

Workers pumped smoke into a storm drain in the River Glen Apartment complex on Telfair Street, and the smoke came out the neighboring sewage line.

It was a test the city had hoped to fail.

"You don't want that," said Russell Thies of the Augusta Utilities Department. "When you find it, you have to do something about it."

The smoke served as an indicator that sewage is flowing into storm drains and out to the Savannah River.

"Yes, it's a problem," said Thies. "You don't want any human waste getting mixed in with your storm lines."

It all comes as thousands prepare to take to the Savannah River for the annual Iron Man competition.

"It's actually a good and a bad thing," said Thies. "It's bad in the sense that you don't like that kind of thing. It is good in that once you find it we can work toward doing something about it."

The department estimates that four gallons of sewage is flowing into the river per minute.

"My concern is the athletes and the quality of the water on our course," said Tammy Stout with the Augusta Sports Council. "We've been told by a couple departments that the water is fine."

"It is something to be concerned about," said Augusta Utilities director Tom Wiedmeier. "It's something that we are concerned about."

But are city officials willing to take the plunge into the river?

"I would swim in the river," said Thies. "I would."

The city did not have an immediate estimate of how much it will cost to fix the problem. The department would not rule out other possible areas that might also be draining into the river.

The Iron Man tournament starts September 24, 2010.