Atlanta Sewer Separation Issues
by Bob Woodall
Sierra Club Endorses Complete Sewer Separation Alternative (PDF)
The Sierra Club supports Alternative #1, complete sewer separation with additional storm water treatment ponds, as the only effective means to comply with The Clean Water Act. As Atlanta City government begins the process of adopting policies and budgeting funds for a solution to our water quality problems, the Sierra Club encourages all residents to voice their support for full sewer separation. Sinking more capital into any alternative that doesn't separate stormwater from sanitary sewers will only perpetuate the contamination of our environment and ignores opportunities for creating greenways and parks, while replacing aging infrastructure in our neighborhoods.
Every citizen and every business in Atlanta benefits from removal of sewage from our streams and the necessity to introduce hazardous and environmentally damaging chlorine into these waterways. We must start the city on a long term comprehensive plan which will integrate neighborhood amenities such as clean streams, parks, and greenway corridors and separate the storm and sanitary sewers for individual treatment. The opportunity for the children of our city to play in the streams again is one great legacy which we have the opportunity to fulfill.
Additional Resources:
- What you should know about Atlanta's Combined Sewers
- Sewer Separation Alternatives - Questions & Answers
- Advantages of full sewer separation
- Disadvantages of tunnels and partial sewer separation
| On Saturday, September 8, from 10:00 am to Noon, concerned citizens from many environmental groups and neighborhood organizations picketed around the Peachtree Creek Bridge located on Howell Mill Road at Peachtree Battle Avenue. The Bridge is located 1-1/2 miles North of the intersection of Howell Mill Road and Interstate 75 North. |  |
- Atlanta needs a Separated sewer system with storm water ponds for cleaning runoff and providing needed greenways in our neighborhoods. We do not need risky tunnels!
- Atlanta should separate all combined sewers, instead of promoting a stopgap approach that will not eliminate nasty Combined Sewer Overflows into our neighborhoods.
- Atlanta's water bills are very expensive and going even higher! Over one billion dollars of our money will be spent on Band-Aids, not an effective solution.
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Howell Mill Road at Peachtree Creek |
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Sierrans advocate separation, not billion dollar band-aids |
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Through stormwater separation, additional greenway corridors can be developed |
Last updated: 12 Sep 01