Cedartown, GA: Stormwater
August 2024 - December 2025
Stormwater drainage ditch in Cedartown, GA
Community Description
Cedartown is a community of 10,000 people in Polk County, Georgia. The median household income is $28,430. It is considered a disadvantaged community under state criteria.
Project Scope
Cedartown and EPIC were connected through a request for technical assistance on the EPA’s WaterTA portal in August of 2024. The City was concerned that stormwater flooding and suspected inflow and infiltration (I&I) issues during rain events were damaging water infrastructure in town. During and after rain events, the wastewater system pump stations run at full capacity, indicating an influx of water from outside. When wastewater systems operate at flows above their design capacity it can cause extensive stress to the infrastructure and can be difficult to manage for utility staff. Cedartown requested assistance developing a scope of work along with financial assistance for an inspection of the sewer lines and storm drains.
Background and Services Provided
Sections of Cedartown’s sewer system are over 60 years old. In this part of town, there is no separate stormwater conveyance system. Drains in the area funnel water to either the wastewater treatment plant or other surface areas. During rain events, this water collects in low lying areas and runs overland causing erosion and infrastructure damage. This water often infiltrates into the sewer lines, leading to stressed wastewater infrastructure, which is not designed to handle this volume of water. Additionally, there is a large stormwater catch basin constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers as well as a 20 acre neighborhood owned lake that add additional challenges to stormwater drainage in town. The City staff are very knowledgeable about the drinking water and wastewater system assets and understand that I&I issues are stressing both systems. The project scope of work included camera mapping of all accessible portions of the sewer system, rating the condition of the sewer pipes and manholes, determining if and where storm drains connect, pinpointing any major blockages, and creating a comprehensive GIS map of the entire system.
Challenges and Opportunities
| Type of Challenge | Project Experience | Outcomes and/or Opportunities |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | The City did not have a map or inventory of the stormwater collection system. This made ongoing maintenance difficult to plan or track. | Project deliverables included a map of the sewer system and highlighted areas without stormwater drains or assets. The City may now look for stormwater-sewer connections. |
| Workforce/Labor | City staff lacked the capacity to implement a full stormwater asset inventory and mapping initiative. Older parts of town lack stormwater conveyance so the entire system is fragmented. | A complete stormwater asset inventory will help the City understand linkages and stress points. |
| Technical | Cedartown staff were interested in acquiring a digitized map of the system and GIS data of the sewer and stormwater system assets for better management. | The contracted engineering firm created data layers and several finished maps of the collection system. |
Project Next Steps
The results showed a variety of conditions and issues including well functioning areas, physical blockages, root intrusion, poorly connected lateral lines, leakages, and damaged pipes. The engineering report about the inspection classifies the issues in terms of priority for repair or replacement. Additionally, it offers the estimated price per foot for three different types of line remediation.
The Cedartown staff may apply for Clean Water State Revolving Fund financing to address the I&I issues, based on the study reports. EPIC staff will support them throughout the application process. The state of Georgia opens their call for projects with the possibility of principal forgiveness in quarter four of the year. The project team is hopeful that the application process will go smoothly, and it will be selected for financing.