Nehemiah Project finishes $3.2M Atlanta plumbing repair contract 15% over goal

Nehemiah Project Community Development Corporation completed its Care and Conserve Plumbing Repair Program for the City of Atlanta with repairs in 269 homes, 15% above its 234-household target. The work helped seniors and other homeowners fix major plumbing problems, cut water waste and stay in their homes.

Why it matters: - The program repaired critical plumbing issues for 269 Atlanta households that could not afford major fixes on their own. - The work helped prevent water loss, sewage damage and housing instability for homeowners already struggling with utility bills and maintenance costs. - The contract also supported job training and certification in Atlanta’s plumbing trade.

What happened: - Nehemiah Project Community Development Corporation completed its Care and Conserve Plumbing Repair Program contract with the City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management. - The contract ran from November 2024 through May 2026. - The program finished 15% above goal, repairing 269 homes against a target of 234. - The total contract value was $3,207,450.95. - $2,284,913.00 of the contract went directly into plumbing repairs in Atlanta homes.

The details: - Crews removed sewage from crawlspaces, replaced underground water service lines and rebuilt bathrooms that had stopped working. - Individual repair jobs ran past $27,000. - The program installed 109 water heaters. - The program replaced 79 main water service lines. - The program replaced 83 drain lines. - The program replaced 19 sewer laterals. - The program installed 244 low-flow toilets. - The program installed 183 thermostatic shower valves to reduce water use. - Repairs reached 82 named neighborhoods, including Adamsville, Collier Heights, Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, East Lake and Grove Park. - Nehemiah created a Document Acquisition position to help seniors gather paperwork needed for assistance applications. - The organization assisted more than 300 Watershed customers with documentation for water bill payment assistance. - Nehemiah provided transportation for more than 30 clients to the Department of Labor for wage verification required for applications. - The organization hired two plumber helpers to train alongside licensed plumbers. - Four licensed plumbers completed advanced leak detection training. - Six contractors earned EPA Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting certifications. - Nehemiah purchased leak detection equipment during the contract period to find hidden leaks behind walls.

Between the lines: - The program addressed more than plumbing. It also tackled the paperwork barriers that often block older homeowners from getting help. - The document support shows how repair programs can fail if residents cannot complete application requirements. - The training and certification work suggests the contract was also used to build local technical capacity, not just finish home repairs.

What's next: - Nehemiah Project CDC says it will continue its broader home repair and housing stability work across metro Atlanta. - The organization has completed more than 900 major plumbing repairs across multiple Care and Conserve contract periods totaling about $8.7 million. - Since 2002, Nehemiah says it has repaired more than 1,250 homes for seniors, veterans and families in metro Atlanta. - The organization also provides senior home rehabilitation, weatherization and other services aimed at helping homeowners stay in their homes.

The bottom line: - The contract closed over target and delivered both urgent home repairs and behind-the-scenes help that made those repairs possible.