OXFORD — Oxfordcity officials have had to clean up six sewage spills -- about 4.4 million gallons of untreated wastewater -- in the last 18 months.

Heavy rains recently forced 12,000 gallons of sewage up through a manhole, and now the city is taking action.

Oxford plans to replace two problematic sewer lines in the next two years and install two sludge digesters at the plant in three years.

"They are taking some steps to address their major needs. We'll see how that goes. We'll continue to keep a close eye on the town," says Ernie Seneca of theDivision of Water Quality.

Since 1994, the city has been assessed more than $158,000 in fines. The city has paid about $20,000 of those fines. Some of them are being appealed.