DeKalb County records 79 percent drop in sewer spill volume since $1.1 billion in upgrades

DECATUR, GA– DeKalb County saw a 79 percent drop in sewer spill volume from 2020 to 2023.

The year-to-date total spill volume dropped from 24 million gallons in 2020 to 5 million gallons in 2023, which is 19 million gallons less, or a 79.23 percent decrease, the county stated in  a news release.

“This significant decline in spill volume is the result of a comprehensive effort to repair, upgrade and maintain DeKalb’s sewer system,” said DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond. “Residents have also contributed to this decrease by pouring less fats, oils and grease down drains.”

Since 2017, the county has invested $1.1 billion to correct years of neglect and mismanagement of its sewer system.  In the past two years, DeKalb County has cleared debris from 1,200 miles of sewer pipe, inspected 4,200 sanitary sewer pipe creek crossings, and removed 15 million gallons of fats, oils and grease from the system.