SOUTH RIVER: A 21st century RECAP

Historically, the two most significant sources of pollution and ecological threats to the South River are the City of Atlanta and DeKalb County. Although water quality has improved greatly in recent decades, the river continues to suffer extensively from Atlanta's combined sewer system and DeKalb's unregulated sewage spills. A 1997 federal consent decree limits the amount of combined sewage Atlanta can legally discharge into Entrenchment Creek via its Combined Sewer Overflow Facility, and a 2011 federal consent decree required that DeKalb County fix its sanitary sewage system by June 2020, a deadline DeKalb missed.

Below are timelines of City of Atlanta’s combined sewer overflow system and DeKalb County’s sanitary sewer spills.

CITY OF ATLANTA: COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW TIMELINE

Atlanta continues to operate combined sewers – a wastewater system that routinely mixes household sewage and stormwater in the same pipes. When it rains, this antiquated system dumps combined sewage into neighborhood creeks and streams, transforming them into open sewers. Today, the last tributary to the South River that is affected by Atlanta’s combined sewer system is Entrenchment Creek in southeast Atlanta.

Early 1880s: The South River became Atlanta’s first sanitary sewer when headwater streams near downtown Atlanta were piped to carry sewage away from wealthy neighborhoods.

Late 1800s – 1930: Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) facilities, wastewater pipes that mix sewage and rainwater together before release to creeks and streams, are built.

1917: First wastewater treatment plant was built to treat household sewage and interceptor pipes were installed to divert sewage to plant during dry weather.

1972: U.S. Clean Water Act (CWA) signed.

1970s: In violation of the CWA, Atlanta routinely dumps raw sewage into creeks, streams, and rivers during heavy rain.

1980s: Army Corps of Engineers assessment found "zero" fish in Entrenchment Creek, indicating poor water quality as the most likely cause. Atlanta's CSO fix does not function at the level needed to prevent degradation of Entrenchment Creek.

1990s: Pollution continues unchecked.

1997: Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper sues Atlanta over CWA violations.

1999: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joins lawsuit resulting in consent decree requiring Atlanta to bring combined sewer system into compliance with water quality requirements of CWA.

2005: One combined sewer discharge site located on Entrenchment Creek remains after consent decree fix implemented.

2005: The first National Pollutants Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) “draft” permit is issued by Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) for Custer Avenue CSO facility on Entrenchment Creek. Sampling data shows water quality in creek is superior to releases from the CSO facility – confirming that discharges are degrading water quality.

2005: SRWA requests anti-degradation review to determine impact of combined sewage effluent on Entrenchment Creek, as required by law. Request ignored by GA EPD and NPDES permit issued.

2005: Army Corps of Engineers assessment found “zero” fish in Entrenchment Creek, indicating poor water quality as most likely cause. Atlanta’s screen, tunnel, storage, and release fix for CSO system does not function at the level needed to prevent degradation of Entrenchment Creek.

2015: City of Atlanta and GA EPD negotiate second NPDES permit for Entrenchment Creek CSO facility. SRWA and other environmental groups protest that permit is weaker than the 2005 permit and file anti-backsliding complaint.

2015: Despite rigorous objection, GA EPD issues less stringent NPDES permit for Custer Avenue CSO facility in violation of anti-backsliding requirements of the Clean Water Act.

2027: City of Atlanta consent decree scheduled to end after 30 years.

DEKALB COUNTY: SANITARY SEWER SPILL TIMELINE

1961: Snapfinger Water Pollution Control facility located on the South River begins operations. Soon after, DeKalb County residents near the South River describe sewage odors as "intolerable." 

Early/Mid 1970s: Noxious odors from Snapfinger plant worsen. Individuals who own property along the South River learn that their property is unmarketable.

1978: Citizen lawsuit is filed to seek relief from noise, odors, and further pollution of the South River.  

1988: Stretch of river from Snapfinger facility to Panola Shoals is nicknamed “Soap Shoals” due to bubbling, sudsy water. Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) announces the South River near this site is a little cleaner but not quite clean enough.   

1989: GA EPD orders DeKalb County to remove nutrients from wastewater discharged into South River as part of an effort to protect Jackson Lake (reservoir), forty miles southeast. Rather than comply, DeKalb sues Ga. Department of Natural Resources on grounds that cleanup was too costly. 

1991: Entire sixty miles of South River declared "extremely polluted" by GA EPD.

1997: City of Atlanta enters federal consent decree to settle lawsuit filed by Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper. Atlanta must limit the impact of its CSO systems on the Chattahoochee River and the South River.

1999: Rockdale County officials express frustration that pollution from Atlanta and DeKalb County effectively denies them use of the South River. Where the South River reaches the county line it is too polluted to be used as a water source or as a discharge for Rockdale's own treated wastewater.

Jan 2006: DeKalb County discharges 10 million gallons of raw sewage into Snapfinger Creek, approximately 200 yards from confluence of the South River. One of the worst spills on record in metro Atlanta.   

2006: DeKalb County reports 241 “public spills” for the period February 2005 – March 2006. GA EPD issues multiple consent orders and fines DeKalb over $400,000 for sewage spills since 2004.

July 2006: The DeKalb County Soil & Water Conservation District develops a webpage to inform residents about the dangers of sanitary sewage overflows and whom to contact if one occurs.

Sept 2006: GA EPD orders DeKalb County to pay a settlement of $265,000 for 187 sanitary sewage overflows. Settlement includes $50,000 for 10 million gallon discharge into Snapfinger Creek on January 29, 2006. Other sewage spill listed in the settlement are 630,000 gallon and 400,000 gallon discharges into South River.

Sept 2007: Supervisor with DeKalb’s Soil & Water Conservation District states the low punitive fines issued by the GA EPD will not motivate the County to abide by the federal Clean Water Act.

Oct 2007: GA EPD issues consent order and DeKalb is ordered to pay a settlement of $157,000 for 210 sanitary sewer spills.

Dec 2008: GA EPD issues consent order and DeKalb is ordered to pay a settlement of $162,193 for 196 sanitary sewer spills.

2009: Proposed $400,000 project funded by DeKalb County and PATH Foundation will build walking and biking path along the South River

2009: DeKalb County reports 136 “public spills” to GA EPD.

2010: The South River in DeKalb County included on GA EPD 303(d) list of impaired waters for fecal and PCB contamination.

July 2010: South DeKalb County residents begin to utilize the South River for recreation after newly constructed county-funded path and parking area are constructed along the river. GA EPD’s official stance is that people should not swim in the river. DeKalb takes action to deny access to river, which is deemed unsafe for recreational use, by posting signs focusing on stormwater.

2010: DeKalb County sued by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for violations of the Clean Water Act for illegal sanitary sewage spills.

Jan 2011: Federal judge signs consent decree which gives County ten years to eliminate sanitary sewage spills.

Dec 2017: DeKalb County misses major consent decree deadline. No punitive action taken by EPA or GA EPD.

2018 – 2019: Sanitary sewage spills continue unabated.

Jun 2020: DeKalb County consent decree expires.