The Department of Watershed Management (DWM) was formed in September 2002 to manage the City of Atlanta’s essential utility operations: drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems. As part of this operation, DWM manages one of the largest water capital improvement programs in the country at an estimated cost of approximately $4 billion. In addition, the wastewater component of the capital program is largely controlled by two Federal Consent Decrees that have perhaps the most stringent and demanding schedule and performance requirements in the country. These Consent Decrees were ordered by the Federal Court in 1998 and 1999 to compel the City of Atlanta to address the conditions of the wastewater system that had been significantly underfunded and seriously under‐maintained for decades. DWM plans, designs, constructs, operates, and maintains the City’s entire system of water and wastewater treatment, pumping, collection and distribution, and proposed stormwater management facilities. Veteran EPA administrator, Jack Ravan was named as commissioner of the new department. Several key positions have been created and filled to ensure that the department can fulfill the City’s goal of operating as a “best-in-class” utility.

By the end of 2003, the City’s goal was to implement a stormwater utility to provide a steady and reliable source of revenue for reducing stormwater flooding, pollution, and maximizing the use of natural pollution-reduction methods such as greenspace and ponds. A Stormwater Utility Master Plan is in the development phase, which will outline the City’s strategy for establishing the Stormwater Utility. The Master Plan will also include a public involvement strategy in the implementation of the stormwater utility.

The City submitted and received regulatory authorization to implement the refined Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Remediation Plan. In November 2007, the CSO Plan went into effect, enabling the City to achieve the highest water quality at the lowest cost within the shortest time frame. The City achieved CD compliance by implementing necessary capital improvements projects using a combination of innovative technologies.

The First Amended Consent Decree (FACD) addresses improvements in the City’s sanitary sewer system and requires the elimination of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). Under the FACD, the City is repairing, replacing or rehabilitating all 2,200 miles of sewer throughout the City and implementing long-term prevention and maintenance strategies. The SSO program includes the development and implementation of Maintenance Operations and Management Systems (MOMS), completion of the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), an aggressive grease management program, and the evaluation and repair of the existing sewers. The long-term goal of the SSO program is to eliminate groundwater and stormwater entering into the system.

The City has partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey and Southeast Waters to implement a comprehensive water quality monitoring plan. Forty stream sites were monitored initially. Currently twenty permanent sites are currently being monitored. In addition, the Long Term Monitoring Program will help the City to track water quality improvements as a result of infrastructure improvements implemented under the Clean Water Atlanta Program.