What is involved in the repair and upgrade of the sewer main pipes?
To protect our environment and our residents from Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) in an identified area along Peavine Creek, an upgrade of the existing ten (10”) inch sewer line up to a twenty (20”) inch sewer line is needed. Through a standard and safe process known as pipe bursting, the line will be upgraded to increase its sewer capacity and prevent further SSOs in the region.

What expertise does DeKalb County and/or their contractor, Portland Utilities, have in the pipe bursting process?
DeKalb County is recognized as a leading County around the country in the relining process and Portland Utilities and its sub-contractors have completed this process for numerous projects covering more than 400,000 feet of pipeline. In addition, Portland Utilities is a leader in trenchless technology and trenchless construction.

Will the pipe bursting process create noise?
There is some noise with the pipe bursting procedure; however, the majority of work will take place during standard business hours, Monday through Friday and on Saturdays if necessary.

Will there be soil disturbance?
There will be minimal soil disturbance unless a problem is encountered. The soil will be disturbed at each point of entry and exit, which will be at the manholes.

When will DeKalb County begin work on the Scott Boulevard-Peavine Creek project and how long will the work last?
The project will begin on October 10, 2007 and is expected to be complete by the close of the year.

Who will be responsible for any damage to landscaping, irrigation systems, fencing and natural areas caused by this repair?
Portland Utilities, the contractor for this project, will be responsible for damages to any landscaping, irrigation systems, fences, etc. that are damaged during this project. Portland Utilities has contracted with a landscape architect to assist in any repairs.

For community members who are directly impacted by this work, how long will it take the contractor to replace/repair any damage to properties? (i.e. plants, grass, fencing, etc.)
The repair work to each property will begin immediately after the work is completed on that particular property. The contractor will repair as they go. They will not wait until the end of the project to complete repairs.

Will there be water outages in the community as a result of this work being done?
There are homes that will encounter a slight disruption in water and sewer flow. Basic water usage should be not heavily impacted; however, excess water usage – for example, the amount of water required to wash five loads of clothes – may not be possible while the contractor is working in your specific area. Portland Utilities will provide notification to the homeowners if their services will be affected.

How will this project impact SSO related to Peavine Creek?
The Scott Boulevard-Peavine Creek Watershed Improvement Project will better protect Peavine Creek from SSO by expanding the system’s capacity. This will increase the overall safety, reliability, and environmental integrity of the County’s sewer and water system on a long-term basis.

Has the Georgia Environmental Protection Division been notified? Are they involved in this project?
As a part of the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management’s standard operating procedures and as a requirement by the State of Georgia, the Environmental Protection Division has been contacted about the SSO problem that occurred in the past and they have investigated the situation. They are not directly involved with the repair work, but they are involved with monitoring the Creek.

In the case of an emergency, who should community members call?
Citizens can contact Jim Marks, Construction Inspector at the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management at (770) 621-7233 (work) or (678) 758-5102 (cell) after hours.