DeKalb County's Water & Sewer Infrastructure in Avondale Estates

Examples of Infrastructure Issues that are DWM's Responsibility

  1. 1 DeKalb Water and Sewer
  2. 2 DeKalb Water and Sewer Pipe Burst
  3. 3 DeKalb Water and Sewer PotHole
  4. 4 DeKalb Water and Sewer Pipe Hole

Potable water and sanitary sewer systems, owned and operated by the DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management (DWM), lie beneath nearly every street in the city of Avondale Estates.

These assets include manholes, underground pipes, service laterals (pipes from the main pipelines to customers), valves, fire hydrants, water meters, and other appurtenances. The city has no authority to maintain, repair, and/or replace these assets. Only DWM or its contractors may work on DWM infrastructure.

DWM's infrastructure is aging, and failures in the right-of-way are common. Infrastructure failures often create sinkholes, areas of subsidence or depressions, and "geysers" when a water main breaks. Failures in the water and sewer system damage city-owned streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks or unimproved areas. DWM's response to these failures is multi-faceted.

What to Expect from a DWM Response

  • Active failure with leaking pipes: Normally the DWM responds quickly to provide a point repair. These responses are typically temporary band-aids sufficient to hold until more permanent repairs can be made. Surface restoration typically does not occur at this time.
  • Active failures with no visible leaks:
    1. Option 1: DWM usually responds quickly to the investigation phase. Repair work may or may not be started immediately. A follow-up work order is normally created. Who ultimately responds depends on the DWM investigator's assessment of the problem's nature. Surface restoration typically does not occur at this time.
    2. Option 2: As in Option 1, typically, there is a quick initial investigation; however, no other action is taken, including future restoration. Often, these cases are difficult to resolve, as the failure in the road or right-of-way is related to a past DWM repair where the restoration and/or backfill and compaction were insufficient.

Most of the contractors and other utilities in Avondale Estates provide surface restoration at the conclusion of their underground utility work. DeKalb's Watershed Management is unique in this sense. One group typically conducts underground work while another performs the surface restoration. Urgency is not always the top priority in completing the work.

Keeping Track of DWM Projects in the City (PDF)

The city's Public Works division maintains an active list of DWM project sites that have remained unfinished for more than 30 days. New unfinished work in the road is more than likely an unfinished DWM project. Please add a report through the Street and Stormwater Concerns Form along with an image, and it will be added to this list.

City staff will do their best to provide updates on projects they are aware of through the city's communication channels including the E-News, social media and News From the City newsletter, but please contact DeKalb County Projects for up-to-date information.

Planned Construction

In addition to unscheduled repairs, DeKalb County has a number of projects occurring in Avondale Estates making necessary upgrades to the existing water and sewer infrastructure. Residents directly affected should receive a door knocker and information from DeKalb County. 

All inquiries about active DeKalb County Projects should be directed to DeKalb County Projects via email, or call 800-986-1108.