In September 2011, the typically black water of Brier Creek (a tributary of the Savannah River) turned a mysterious milk-chocolate color. Shortly after that, the water turned clear. Within a few days, thousands of fish washed up dead along Brier Creek. The GA EPD failed to notify the City of Waynesboro, which relies on Brier Creek for their municipal drinking water. Upon discovery of the fish kill, SRK had conducted regular testing along the creek and detected unusually high levels of aluminum sulfate- a chemical compound used in kaolin processing facilities. Brier Creek lies in the heart of kaolin country, and the creek receives waste from kaolin mines and processing facilities.
Despite all of this information, the EPD has failed to determine a cause for the fish kill. However, SRK vows to continually monitor the water quality at Brier Creek and pressure the EPD to conduct an analysis of kaolin processing facilities waste procedures to ensure an disaster of this magnitude does not happen again.