DeKalb County Georgia. Source: Google Maps.

DeKalb County says it has contained a major sewer spill reported on Aug. 17 in the tributary that feeds into Nancy Creek near Mill Creek Road in Brookhaven.

“County inspectors discovered that a 10-inch diameter pipe compromised by soil erosion caused the spill,” a press release from the county says. “The estimated 3.9-million-gallon spill initially was reported on Aug. 17 by DeKalb County to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Georgia Environmental Protection Division.”

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County CEO Michael Thurmond has directed staff to issue an emergency task order to inspect all pipes in the area, the press release says. Staff will also inspect the hundreds of miles of pipes parallel to county creeks and tributaries.

“DeKalb County records reveal that due to location and staffing limitations, pipes in this area have not been routinely inspected,” the press release says.

Crews working for the county plan to replace 600 feet of root-clogged pipe by Aug. 30 and will follow that up with stream bank restoration and landscaping.

“On Aug. 8, the county learned of the spill after being notified by the city of Atlanta about high bacteria counts in Nancy Creek,” the press release from the county says. “Due to the remote location and large search area, it took a team of four inspectors nine days to locate the source of the spill by analyzing water samples from the creek and nearby tributaries.”

Caution signs remain in the area and residents are urged to avoid the site.

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