Yet another sewage spill in the area.

This morning the AJC reports that 12,600 gallons of raw sewage spilled on Hancock Drive near Emory University yesterday and spilled into Peachtree Creek.

Lots of people went before the DeKalb County Commission this past week and complained about higher water rates that are needed to cover a $700 million overhaul of the county’s sewer system.  I’m sorta feeling like I should have gone down there and done some unhinged yelling about these upgrades not being made sooner.  That would’ve really thrown those penny-pinchers for a loop!

Yum.  Sewage leakage.

The AJC reports in an extensive article this morning that the Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that DeKalb County upgrade its 50 year-old sewage system after over 800 leaks have been reported over the past 5 years.  Failure to do so will result in daily fines of $37,500 a day.

The DeKalb County Commission is scheduled to vote on over $1 billion in sewer and water system upgrades at tonight’s commission meeting.  Many DeKalb residents have voiced passionate displeasure at what this will mean for their water bills – which will increase dramatically over the next couple years – citing the recession and financial difficulties.  Unfortunately, raw sewage waits for no man or woman.

And it seems like Decatur has been ground zero for pipe failure lately…

Two weeks ago, the county had to close portions of Second Avenue in Decatur after pipes broke and 40,800 gallons of sewage spilled, according to water department records. Last week, the county had to suspend water service for 12 hours to residents near Glenwood Road and Parkhill Drive in Decatur after a water main burst. And a rail section in Decatur is closed this weeks to repair a water main under the tracks.

Yuck.