Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Improvement Project

Reduce overflows, meet future capacity demands, and protect the environment

Overview

The Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer is a critical component of DeKalb County's sewer collection infrastructure and conveys sewer from local residents, businesses, and industries to the Snapfinger Creek Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF). The project is a part of the county's $2.4 billion capital improvement plan to improve its water and wastewater infrastructure. Once completed, the Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Improvement Project will provide much needed capacity to accommodate future growth and enhance the environmental resilience of the county's infrastructure.

This project begins at the Snapfinger Creek AWTF and extends north through unincorporated DeKalb County and into the incorporated areas of Decatur and Avondale Estates. The primary components include:

  • replacing and/or upgrading approximately 13 miles of gravity sewer ranging in diameters from 12 to 72 inches,
  • crossing underneath Interstate 20 and Interstate 285 connection of numerous existing residents and businesses, and
  • removing aged infrastructure from adjacent stream banks.

Goals and Objectives

  • Achieve regulatory compliance by reducing sanitary sewer overflows
    • provide best in class service to the community
  • Investing in strategic infrastructure to meet future demands will:
    • increase sewer system capacity
    • foster economic growth
    • provide job opportunities
    • direct resources to south central DeKalb County
  • Protect natural resources through environmental stewardship
    • minimize sewer spills
    • protect public health
    • improve local ecology

Project Location

  • Section 1: Snapfinger Creek AWTF to Flat Shoals Parkway
  • Section 2: Flat Shoals Parkway to Interstate 20
  • Section 3: Interstate 20 to South Columbia Drive

Three Sections of the Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Relief Project

Benefits to Our Shared Environment

The County understands the connection between a quality sanitary sewer system and a healthy environment. Eliminating sewer spills from the County’s rivers and streams is key to improving our aquatic environment. The ecological health of our water resources benefits both the environment and our citizens. Benefits include:

  • Job Creation: Priority Area Rehab and Trunk Sewer Project will create an estimated 1,891 jobs from 2021 through 2026.
  • Allow Growth and Development: Since 2017, there have been 1,551 request to connect to the sewer system; 379 requests are pending. These represent delays to new commercial developments.
  • Planned Growth: By 2050, the population served is estimated to be 900,000 and the employment in the County's service area is estimated to be approximately 640,000.

Current Status

The project has completed final design work and is now processing easement acquisitions. Construction is estimated to begin in 2026 and last approximately three years.

DeKalb County Television Project Video

Produced by DeKalb County Television (DCTV) Channel 23, this video provides an in-depth look at ongoing initiatives to enhance the watershed system in DeKalb County. Specifically, the video focuses on the Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Improvement Project, outlining its strategies to mitigate recurrent sanitary sewer overflows and meet the anticipated sewer demands in DeKalb County for the next five decades.

13 Priority Fix List (PFL) sites, displayed as red circles below, have been identified as having a significant history of capacity-related sanitary sewer overflows.

Priority Fix List Final

Public Information Open House #1 - November 14, 2023

DeKalb County Government Facility ( 180 Sams Street, Decatur, GA 30030 )

Public Information Open House #2 - November 16, 2023

Contact the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management Hotline

Open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 1.800.986.1108

Email: shoalcreektrunksewer@dekalbcountyga.gov

Three Sections of the Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Relief Project