DeKalb County

Nancy Creek Sewer Spill has been contained but residents are still being asked to stay away from the spill area.  DeKalb County inspectors finally discovered the spill near Mill Creek Road in the Nancy Creek Basin in Brookhaven on August 17 after the City of Atlanta reported high bacteria counts on August 8. The inspectors, searching miles of pipelines for days, discovered the 10 inch pipe that had been compromised by soil erosion causing an estimated 3.9 million gallon spill into the creek.  Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Agency responded to quickly fix the problem. Although the spill is contained, additional repair work is scheduled to be completed by August 30. 

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond has directed staff to issue an emergency task order to have all pipes in the Nancy Creek area to be immediately inspected to prevent future spills. Staff has also been instructed to conduct routine inspections of hundreds of miles of pipes near county creeks and tributaries. According to county records, regular inspections have not been routinely inspected due to location and staffing limitations. CEO Thurmond says "the preservation of our waterways is critical to sustaining a quality of life in DeKalb County. We must ensure our infrastructure is properly maintained and inspected on a regular basis.

Caution signs will remain posted until repair work and landscaping is complete.