DeKalb County officials are encouraging residents to refrain from dumping cooking byproducts down the drain, citing the negative impacts butter and grease have on the sewer system.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Tuesday reported there have been 871 raw sewage spills in the county over the past five years, and grease was identified as a factor in seven out of every 10 spills.
The Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 ordered the county to spend $700 million on sewer upgrades. The county is now working on a $1.35 billion upgrade to its sewer system, which is expected to take eight years to complete.
Since beginning a community outreach effort on the issue, the county has seen a 38% drop through October in the number of sewage spills since last year.
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Saturday, May 25 2013 5:03 PM EDT2013-05-25 21:03:38 GMT
Three people remain at an Atlanta hospital a day after they were injured aboard a hotel shuttle bus that crashed with a tractor-trailer near the city's airport.
Three people remain at an Atlanta hospital a day after they were injured aboard a hotel shuttle bus that crashed with a tractor-trailer near the city's airport.
Saturday, May 25 2013 4:19 PM EDT2013-05-25 20:19:38 GMT
Georgia stands to lose $1.8 million in funding because state officials refuse to participate in a federal survey that asks high school and middle school students about their sexual history.
Georgia stands to lose $1.8 million in funding because state officials refuse to participate in a federal survey that asks high school and middle school students about their sexual history.