Mayor Dickens says Atlanta’s infrastructure needs a complete overhaul after water main devastation

ATLANTA – Atlanta’s mayor says the city needs a complete overhaul of its aging infrastructure. This comes after burst water mains caused major disruption in parts of the city.

As Mayor Dickens stopped to speak to seniors at QLS Haven in southwest Atlanta, he spoke about the water pipes that burst a week ago, causing widespread problems that have affected hospitals, businesses and residents.

“We’re going to work on the aging pipes we have. The pipes that burst were pipes from the 1920s and 1930s,” he told the group.

During an interview with FOX 5, the mayor said there were 500 breakages and leaks last year; It’s time for a complete system overhaul.

“We need to do a complete system review of aging stocks and replace them before they break. That means the pipes, the valves, all the mechanisms necessary to sustain them,” Mayor Dickens said.

He said a project of this scale is expected to cost billions of dollars.

“I don’t anticipate having to go to the taxpayers, to the citizens. We’re going to use the funds that we already have in our MOST and capital improvement plan, but to speed things up we’re going to have to go to the federal government and ask for their help,” said Mayor Dickens.

It will also take time to dig the road, replace the pipes, and then repair the road.

“It’s a long construction cycle for each set of pipes to replace, so you’re talking weeks to replace each one and months to replace sections,” Mayor Dickens said.

It is also planned to use technology that will detect a leak before it is too late. The mayor talked about sensors that use artificial technology to detect breaks and leaks in water pipes more quickly, before water starts gushing out of the ground.

“They are sensors, but they use artificial technology to predict, using technology to warn us in advance and some predictive analytics as well, and that will really help us get a head start,” the mayor said Dickens.

The mayor said he plans to begin using the AI ​​devices this summer, starting in Midtown, Vine City and English Avenue, then spreading them throughout the city.