DeKalb County ratifies $47.6m in emergency wastewater upgrades at Snapfinger facility

DeKalb County ratifies $47.6m in emergency wastewater upgrades at Snapfinger facilityThe Board of Commissioners approved a suite of emergency contracts to expand wet weather storage and membrane capacity, targeting 14 consistent sewer spill areas across the county's collection system.

Commissioners approved three emergency contracts totaling roughly $47.6 million for Phase 3C and wet weather storage at the Snapfinger facility.

Ruby-Collins, Inc. secured the largest share, winning a $32.3 million contract for membrane capacity buildout and a $10.9 million contract for wet weather pumping storage.

The emergency upgrades are designed to receive and treat increased effluent as the county repairs broken pipes and mitigates existing sewer overflows.

A related $5.3 million emergency contract for membrane bioreactors was deferred after a county audit identified over $500,000 in potential savings.

On May 12, 2026, the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners approved nearly $48 million in emergency contracts to upgrade the Snapfinger Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (SFAWTF). The massive capital injection is aimed at expanding the plant's capacity to process effluent and mitigate ongoing sanitary sewer overflows. During the meeting, Commissioner Robert Patrick explained that the emergency expenditures are a direct byproduct of broader efforts to repair the county's collection system. The upgrades will specifically address 14 "consistent sewer spill areas." "Once the pipes are fixed, all of that effluent has to be transferred somewhere," Patrick said. "This handles where it gets transferred to, as well as what's necessary to help clean up the water before it moves back downstream." The board unanimously ratified three emergency purchases. Ruby-Collins, Inc. secured the bulk of the work, winning a $32.3 million contract for the Phase 3C buildout to upgrade membrane capacity across four clusters, alongside a $10.9 million contract to design and implement wet weather pumping storage. A third emergency contract, valued at $4.2 million, was awarded to Cole Technology, Inc. to assess and upgrade the Phase 3C Influent Lift Station pumping system. A fourth emergency contract for the facility—a $5.3 million award to Kovalus Separation Solutions, LLC for membrane bioreactor equipment—was deferred for two weeks. According to Patrick, the county's audit department identified over $500,000 in potential savings on the contract, prompting staff to pause and review the procurement. In other water-related business, the board deferred a proposed stormwater utility fee increase to allow for a dedicated town hall meeting. Additionally, the commission faced intense pushback during public comment regarding a zoning text amendment for data centers. Multiple residents cited severe concerns over the strain hyperscale data campuses would place on the county's water and sewer infrastructure, with one commenter noting the facilities can consume 5 million gallons of water per day while the county maintains limited backup water supplies.