Special to the Times

  The Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority (HCWSA) is joining Henry County Storm-water Management and Strong Rock Christian School to host the 2012 Henry County Rivers Alive on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 4200 Strong Rock Parkway.

Volunteers are needed to make this year’s Henry County Rivers Alive event a success.                                      Special photo

   Volunteers are needed to make this year’s Henry County Rivers Alive event a success, say event organizers. Those who register for the event will receive a complimentary Rivers Alive t-shirt, while supplies last, as well as free lunch and fishing from the banks of the Indian Creek/Gardner Reservoir, which is the site where volunteers will be shuttled to for this year’s river cleanup.

  While the HCWSA has a strong reputation and track record for community outreach, officials from the Authority admit they have an additional self interest in this year’s event.

  The 2012 Henry County Rivers Alive will help protect the perimeter of one of the Authority’s drinking water reservoirs; therefore, keeping away potential pollutants of this natural resource and safeguarding the community’s drinking water quality and supply are among the primary objectives of the cleanup, says Tonja Halton-Mincey, HCWSA Environmental Specialist.

  Indian Creek and the surrounding areas of the Gardner Reservoir provide surface water runoff that serves as the raw water source for drinking water production for HCWSA customers. Henry County’s five drinking water reservoirs, owned and operated by the HCWSA, also provide opportunities for outdoor education and recreation.

   Halton-Mincey also notes that Henry County Rivers Alive serves as a key strategy for the Authority to meet its objective to host public education and outreach events in compliance with the Watershed Management Plan of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District, which includes Henry County within its jurisdiction.

  Rivers Alive volunteers are encouraged to wear work boots or similar non-skid, sturdy footwear, as well as long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and gloves. Hats and sunscreen are also recommended, in addition to a tool to pick up trash.

  The overall goal for Henry County Rivers Alive is to highlight and promote pollution prevention awareness for the protection of natural resources, adds Annie Huff, Environmental Compliance Specialist for Henry County Stormwater Management.

  Rivers Alive is Georgia’s annual cleanup event that targets all waterways in the state, including streams, lakes/reservoirs, beaches, and wetlands, in addition to rivers. The mission of Rivers Alive is to create awareness of, and involvement in, the preservation of Georgia’s natural/water resources.

  For more information on Rivers Alive, Henry County citizens can log onto www.hcwsa.com or www.henrycountystormwater.com; or, they can contact Tonja Halton-Mincey with Henry County Water at 678-583-3810, or Annie Huff with Henry County Stormwater Management at 770-288-7246.