Mount Paran Northside Citizens Association

C.L.E.A.N. - Creating Livable Environments in Atlanta N'borhoods

Wastewater Capacity Management Facility Update

CLEAN supports the deep sewer concept to clean up the creeks and streams in Buckhead. The deep sewer will take the pressure off of the existing sewer lines and eliminate the overflows that occur during rainy weather. The Nancy Creek Deep Sewer provides a long-term solution to Buckhead’s sewer woes.

GOAL: Clean Creeks and Streams for our Children
Allow residents to use their yards that border the streams
Help preserve our environmental heritage for our children


WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW?

Buckhead’s sewer pipes are cracked, broken and riddled with holes. Pipes are undersized – grossly inadequate to handle current and future volumes of sewage. Nancy Creek sewer is overloaded and during wet weather, sewage and debris flood our streams, playgrounds, yards, and basements. This causes a) expensive, continuous cleanup of contaminated backyards and creeks, b) additional, costly, and unnecessary treatment of water contaminated due to sewage spills in Nancy Creek, and c) prohibition of public access to streams, playgrounds, and backyards due to health risk.


WHAT ARE OUR ALTERNATIVES?

1. Surface sewer pipe replacement: Cut a swath 50-100 feet wide. Wholesale destruction to yards, stream banks, and trees. In order to be effective, every property owner must give an easement to replace every pipe in every yard.
2. Deep underground sewer tunnel. Go into the ground down 150-200 feet below the surface. Burrow straight and come out at RM Clayton. Pump wastewater up to RM Clayton where it can be treated.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF THE DEEP SEWER?

1. Minimal environmental impacts during construction
2. Minimal disturbance of neighborhoods
3. No restriction on property owner’s surface use of land
4. Rehabilitation of existing pipes without environmental destruction

WHERE WILL IT BE?

The actual path has not yet been determined and will be based on the following criteria:
1. Placed near existing problems to be able to tie into the existing pipes.
2. Condition of the subsurface rock. Atlanta has nonporous metamorphic rock, which is excellent for construction.


HOW WILL THE CITY DECIDE?

Rock samples will be taken. The path selected will have the best rock conditions for construction. Entrance shafts will be located on publicly owned property.

WHAT ABOUT ODOR?

Hydrogen sulfide (sewer gas) is denser than ambient air. It stays deep underground until it reaches RM Clayton, where a ventilation system draws it to an odor control facility where it is treated.

WHAT ABOUT LEAKS?

Leaks can happen in any sewer line. A leak 200 feet underneath in solid granite is sealed; whereas a surface break overflows into our yards, creeks, streams, and basements. Atlanta is fortunate to have extremely good rock for deep sewer construction, and in addition, the following precautions will be taken to ensure the integrity of construction:
1. Geotechnical investigation with borings and permeability testing
2. Pre-excavation probing
3. Advance filing of any rock fractures
4. Sealants and lining

WHAT ABOUT SIEISMIC ACTIVITY?

The construction of a deep sewer is much too small to generate earthquake or seismic activity.

HOW WILL WE KNOW WHAT’S HAPPENING?

There will be manned inspections by the public and a continuous video of construction on a website available to the public.

WHAT WILL THIS ACCOMPLISH?

With the least disruptive environmental impact, the deep sewer tunnel will:
Protect the health of our children
Clean up our creeks and streams
Eliminate sewage overflows
Protect aquatic life

For Further Information

If you would like to be updated about this issue, please fill out this form and return to: Mary Norwood, P.O. Box 53408, Atlanta, GA 30355; Fax: 404-237-3776, E-mail: Clean@onecallweb.com