Exelon Energy’s Hillabee Generating Station, a 670-megawatt generating station, is seeking a permit modification to discharge low volume flows of filter backwash water and water used to regenerate its demineralization system into Oaktasasi Creek, which flows into the Tallapoosa River and Lake Martin.

The plant is currently permitted to discharge 312,000 gallons per day of cooling tower blowdown water. The proposed modification will divert approximately 5,000 gallons of low volume flow per day, which is currently being stored and later taken by truck to Sugar Creek Treatment Plant for treatment, into the cooling tower water. According to a permit modification summary filed with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, this would increase the daily discharge from the cooling tower to 340,000 gallons per day, as an additional 23,000 gallons per day would be required to circulate the water through the cooling tower.