How can residents help prevent sewage spills?

The Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources has scrambled no less than seven times since the first of the year to stop sewage spills. Aside from the obvious reasons no one wants sewage backing up into their home, exposure to raw sewage in streets and nearby streams can pose a risk to diseases and infections including gastroenteritis and E. coli.

“Most of these spills are the result of grease, fats and oils down the kitchen drain and items mistakenly believed as flushable placed in toilets,” said DWR Public Information Officer Karen Shields.

Most people know that bacon grease will clog a drain, but less obvious fats like ice cream and peanut butter also contribute to the problem.

The Gwinnett sewerage system is designed to dispose of water, toilet paper and human waste. Many things people think of as flushable, like facial or baby wipes and sanitary napkins, do not break down like toilet paper. Many items marked as ‘flushable,’ do not disperse or break apart once they are in the sewer system.

Throughout the county, sewage lines are regularly hydrajet flushed, with about 1 million feet treated last year alone. DWR also uses video records in sewage lines looking for potential clogs. They also utilize an acoustic wave system called the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool that can assess a blockage in less than three minutes.

With the county seeming to do everything it can to prevent and handle potential sewage spills, we asked what residents can do to help avoid the problem.

Shields had three thoughts of advice, “Toilets aren’t trashcans. Food disposals don’t make it go away, and think before you throw things down the drain.”

Besides the public relations campaign, what can Gwinnett do to get residents to keep drains clear to avoid sewage spill? Send comments to communitynews@ ajc.com. Responses may be edited for length and/or clarity and may be published online and/or in print. Cobb County residents are offered many opportunities to speak during government meetings. However, regulations vary on how much time Cobb residents are allowed to voice their opinions and whether they will receive a response. Most are allowed five minutes each, but the Cobb County Board of Education often reduces speaking time to two minutes and Smyrna allows three minutes. We asked readers if Cobb governmental entities should adopt a uniform process for public comment? I do like the fact that (the) Cobb (Board of Commissioners) gives five minutes and (Cobb Commission Chairman Mike) Boyce gives feedback and lets speakers speak at the beginning of the meeting instead of having to wait until the end. I’ve probably been coming to (Austell City) Council meetings for 15 years because I believe it’s a citizen’s duty to know what’s happening. Frequently, I’m the only speaker. I think the time allowed is sufficient. Cobb County can set their own standards. However, the towns should set their standards since each town is unique and citizens have different needs. A fine example of what’s wrong with our schools. Not a school, but another cancerous state bureaucracy that parents have little control over. The best example I can think of for how to run a public meeting is what Austell Mayor Joe Jerkins has been doing for about 24 years. The mayor begins the public meeting by asking if anyone wants to speak. Anyone can speak. The mayor and council members remain quiet until the person has said what he/she wants to say. Sometimes questions are asked. Then the mayor asks,“Do you want to say anything else?”The citizen can add anything he/she wants to or sit down. The mayor thanks the person, then asks,“Would anyone else like to speak?”And that’s how it goes. This is how to run a public meeting. Thank you, Mayor Jerkins. The issue presented today involves your community – add your voice to the discussion. Submissions should be no longer than 150 words. They may be edited for length and clarity and may be published in print or other formats. Email is preferred. Email: communitynews@ajc.com.