Mayor office says cameras at water facilities being repaired - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

The mayor's office says reports that there are problems with security cameras at Atlanta's water facilities are exaggerated.

FOX 5 was first to report of worker complaints that surveillance cameras are broken at a Midtown water facility, jeopardizing law enforcement's ability to protect drinking water.

Atlanta City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong, the chair of the council oversight panel, asked  Atlanta Watershed Management Commissioner JoAnn Macrina if the cameras on 14th Street were not working.

"That is correct and that's part of the camera assessment program," said Macrina.

However, an official with Mayor Kasim Reed's office said that is not the case and that Macrina did not mean to leave that impression.

In a follow-up question to Macrina, Archibong asked when repairs might be made.

"We're doing a comprehensive assessment, so we're fixing what we can fix," said Macrina.

Hans Utz, Atlanta's deputy chief operating officer, said that out of 35 cameras, four were down and they were being repaired. Utz said that funds are available to do a major overhaul of the entire surveillance system.

"Security is paramount at these facilities. That is very much a priority," said Utz.

Utz said that some of the broken cameras may not be repaired because they are not in critical locations.

Macrina was not available for comment.

City officials said they'll take FOX 5 inside facilities and show us that overall a majority of cameras are working.