MAYOR’S OFFICE OF
COMMUNICATIONS
55 Trinity Avenue, Suite 2500
Atlanta, Georgia 30303 |
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| CONTACT: |
Sandra Allen Walker, Director |
| Office |
404-330-6395 |
| Cell: |
404-925-1666 |
| E-mail: |
swalker@ci.atlanta.ga.us |
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or |
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LaChandra Butler |
| Office: |
404-330-6248 |
| Cell: |
404-886-2334 |
| E-mail: |
ldbutler@ci.atlanta.ga.us |
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August 12, 2003 |
Atlanta Sewer Rehab Hits
100-Mile Mark Ahead of Schedule and Under Budget
August 12, 2003 -Not long after she was elected, Atlanta Mayor
Shirley
Franklin took a good look at her city's sewer system and was
appalled.
Much of the system, which encompasses 264 sewersheds and more
than
1,583 miles of sanitary sewer pipe, was approaching 100 years
old, and
years of neglect left it leaking and overburdened. Franklin
promptly
and proudly dubbed herself the "Sewer Mayor" and set
out to change
things. She created the Department of Watershed Management and
gave it
a broad mandate to create a best-in-class sewer system at the
lowest
possible cost.
Today, the City showcased the latest milestone in those efforts
- the
completion of the first 100 miles (528,000 linear feet) of sewer
system rehabilitation. Before Mayor Franklin took office, less
than 10
miles of sewer were being rehabilitated each year. Mayor Franklin
reviewed the program and set a goal of completing 24 miles per
year.
The project has exceeded this goal averaging more than 30 miles
per
year - coming in ahead of schedule and under budget. The completion
of
this stage of the rehab project means that 1/16th of the City's
sanitary sewer system - 14 complete sewersheds - are 100 percent
rehabilitated. The project was accomplished through a partnership
with
a Chesterfield, Mo.-based company, Insituform Technologies,
Inc.,
using city personnel.
Under the contract, staff completed 65 total assignments, including
work on 21 sewersheds, 18 emergency projects, three targeted
trunk
projects and 25 area projects.
The city celebrated the 100-mile accomplishment with a ceremony
at
Chastain Park featuring remarks from Councilmembers Clair Muller
and
Howard Shook. The event also included a demonstration of the
Cured-In-Place Pipe rehabilitation process.
"We are justifiably proud of this work," said Jack
Ravan, Commissioner
of the Department of Watershed Management. "With this milestone,
we
are on our way to fulfilling Mayor Franklin's pledge of a
'world-class' sewer system."
Although Mayor Franklin was unable to attend the ceremony,
she issued
her congratulations on the achievement, saying, "Our commitment
to the
community is to accelerate this process and this is a good indication
that we are on the right track. Insituform Technologies, Inc.,
in
partnership with our employees, has come in ahead of schedule
and
under budget, helping us toward our goal of creating a best-in-class
sewer system at the lowest possible cost."
"This is a significant achievement in the Mayor's Operation
Clean
Sewer Program," said Gerald Addington, Insituform's Area
Vice
President based in Atlanta. Addington continued, "Mayor
Franklin
should be commended for her leadership in putting Atlanta in
the
forefront in dealing with these needs. This type of infrastructure
improvement provides an improved environment and better quality
of
life for all of Atlanta's citizens, while boosting local business
and
employment."
Along with the rehabilitation project, the City is expanding
capacity
in 10 major sewer trunk lines, constructing the Nancy Creek
tunnel for
storage of sanitary sewer overflows, and instituting a comprehensive
grease management program. A sewer cleaning project is under
way as
well.
Additional Media Contact: Marilyn Johnson, Citizen Participation
Program Office (404) 330-6755
Photos available upon request.
For more information about the programs and services of the
City of
Atlanta Visit our website at www.atlantaga.gov or watch City
Channel
26
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