Shortly after

Senoia rings in the new year in January, construction is expected to start

on phase two of the city's sewerage project.

The price tag

on the second phase is $6.1 million and low interest loans and a $2.6

million grant will pay for the construction.

The second

phase would sewer the existing homes and businesses in town and have an

ultimate capacity of 700,000 gallons per day. Currently, the city's first

phase is using about 25,000 gallons a day for 50 low-income homes.

City Administrator

Leonard Thompson estimates it will take nearly 18 months to complete the

project. The sewer system will feature eight-inch lines connected to six

pump stations that feed the sewage to the town's treatment plant next

to Southern Mills on Andrews Parkway.

The city hooked

up the first customer to the sewer system last summer after nearly 20

years of debate, planning and discussion.

The first phase

is providing sewerage for the town's low-income residents.

The city will

then focus on providing sewerage to the town's subdivisions and the businesses

on Main Street.

During the

town's initial installation of the service, residents will be allowed

to hook up for free. But since many of the older homes have their current

septic systems in the backyards and the new sewer lines are running along

the street, there will still be a cost to make the connection.