Atlanta mayor unveils 20-year, multi-billion-dollar water system overhaul
$2B infrastructure upgrades in Atlanta
The city of Atlanta will upgrade its aging infrastructure and the price tag is substantial. Mayor Andre Dickens says the two-billion-dollar project will take more than 20 to complete, but it must be done.
ATLANTA - Mayor Andre Dickens has announced a multi-billion-dollar, 20-year plan to modernize Atlanta’s aging water infrastructure and ensure clean, reliable water for future generations. The initiative comes after a series of major water main breaks left thousands of residents without water last year.
What we know:
The city's water system has shown increasing signs of failure, with numerous water main breaks, especially in Midtown. These recurring issues prompted Mayor Dickens to form the Atlanta Water Advisory Group, which includes experts from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin.
The city has also deployed new AI technology to monitor and detect faulty valves in an effort to prevent future failures.
Mayor Dickens talks about plan to fix water system
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens held a press conference on Tuesday morning to talk about a plan to fix the city's aging water system.
What's next:
The mayor emphasized that the project will take at least 20 years to fully implement, and it's unclear whether residents will see a water rate increase to help fund the upgrades.
"Right now, I can't say that a water rate increase is on or off the table," Dickens stated. "We're not asking ratepayers to pay more at this time, but over the next 20 years, that could change."
Additionally, Mayor Dickens introduced his newest cabinet member, James Gregory Eyerly, who is expected to play a key role in the city's infrastructure efforts.
While the project will take decades to complete, the city is hoping that proactive planning and advanced technology will help prevent further widespread water disruptions in the near future.