DeKalb County putting additional $35M to finish massive sewer cleanup

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County residents are getting an update on the massive sewer cleanup underway.

Channel 2's Sophia Choi first reported on this story on Monday. It's the first time in 50 years maintenance work is being done to repair and clean 53 miles of main sewer lines.

A deadline was set under a 2011 Environmental Protection Agency consent decree after a number of sewage spills.

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This process is costing $16.6 million so far and the county is putting in another $35 million to finish the work.

DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond took the time to thank DeKalb County crews on Thursday for doing what many say is a thankless job.

"These men and women have removed more than 80 tons of sediment and debris from clogged sanitary sewers," Thurmond said.

But it hasn’t been a smooth cleanup for DeKalb County Watershed Management crews.

Cox Media Group