An estimated 330 gallons of wastewater spilled into a tributary of Sope Creek on Saturday, July 18, 2026, after grease clogged a county sewer main near 22 Lakeshore Drive NE in Marietta.
The Cobb County Water System said crews were notified at 11:47 a.m. and stopped the overflow by 2:30 p.m.
When workers arrived, they found gray wastewater spilling across an 8-by-5-foot area and flowing into the creek tributary, according to the agency's press release issued Monday, July 20. Crews used a jet machine to clear the grease from the main line, then cleaned the site and spread enzymes to break down remaining waste. Crews observed no fish kills at the scene, the press release stated.
Repeat location
The same address experienced a similar overflow less than a year earlier. On Thursday, July 31, 2025, a debris blockage at 22 Lakeshore Drive sent an estimated 250 gallons into the same Sope Creek tributary, according to a separate Cobb County Water System press release. That spill was contained in about 36 minutes.
The county's CMOM compliance records also list at least three other Sope Creek tributary overflows in the 30067 ZIP code between April and July 2025, at addresses on West Somerset Court, Lakeshore Way NE, and Kings Row.
Why grease matters
The Cobb County Water System says 85 percent of sewer blockages countywide are grease-related and occur in residential areas. Fats, oils, and grease from household kitchens coat pipe walls, restrict flow, and eventually force sewage into streets or waterways.
What residents should know
Sope Creek flows south into the Chattahoochee River and runs through a popular East Cobb park used for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running. The county's press release did not include any advisory about recreational contact with the water, nor did it announce follow-up water quality testing.
The press release was issued under Georgia Environmental Protection Division rules requiring public notification of sewer overflows that discharge into state waters.
Residents with questions can contact the Cobb County Water System's System Maintenance Division at 770-528-8731, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
