ATLANTA — Plans are moving forward to bring relief to Atlanta's storm drains and sewage systems. The city hired a contractor to build a solution to address years of residents' complaints.
Douglas Lay has lived in the same southeast Atlanta home he bought over 50 years ago. However, living in the community has come with a few issues.
"During the summer is when it’s really bad, the smell comes right up,” Lay said. "There'll be mold too. We moved into the problem."
That problem runs right through his backyard in the form of Intrenchment Creek. A sign next to the creek states it is subject to sewer overflows and no one should play, swim or fish in the water. Those overflows have caused bouts of flooding, mold and a strong stench that can be smelled often, according to Lay.
"We had a problem with rodents coming through the grass," Lay said. "We had a problem getting them under control when they'd come in the house, and you'd have to keep rat traps and rat poison down."
Meghan Jones is an attorney for dozens of Atlanta residents who say they have lost their homes and had their health compromised due to the city's handling of the water system. As years of complaints have mounted, the city is currently under a federal consent decree to fix its water issues.
"When you see these large water events happening, it's overwhelming the system," Jones said. "The result is water that's combined with stormwater and sewage coming out of these drains and entering people's homes."
In September, the Atlanta City Council voted unanimously to use $72 million to move forward with plans to design a relief project to help control surface water, provide underground storage, and upgrade infrastructure. The city's Department of Watershed Management hired a contractor to finalize the design in the next few months.
The Custer Avenue Multi-Benefit Capacity Relief Project will lie in Councilman Jason Winston's District 1. He said the project will include greenspace that will serve as a park.
"The city cares about making sure the infrastructure is sound, that people can live in their homes without the fear of worrying about flooding," Winston said. "We're committed to making sure this area is safe and sound for folks who've called it home for many generations."
Jones said solutions are long overdue and more needs to be done. Meanwhile, Lay said he looks forward to the day that the problem in his backyard is fixed.