The Department of Watershed Management is dedicated to providing the highest quality drinking water and wastewater services to residential, businesses and wholesale customers while protecting Atlanta’s urban waterways, conserving natural resources, and providing clean, safe water for downstream customers.
Led by Commissioner Al Wiggins, Jr, the Department has responsibility for the City’s drinking water and wastewater systems. It is continuing work on the $4 billion Clean Water Atlanta Program, a complete overhaul of the City’s water and sewer infrastructure undertaken as part of two federal consent decrees. Work under the first consent decree, governing the combined sewer system, was completed in 2007. Work under the second amendment to the first amended consent decree (SSO) is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
With responsibility for strategic planning and oversight for the operations of water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment services, and stormwater management, the Office of the Commissioner ensures that the City complies with all federal and state regulations regarding water resource management; identifies potential environmental issues and develops strategies to effectively respond; ensures the City is aware of proposed environmental standards, trends and technologies; and provides engineering reviews and design and construction management services on capital improvement projects.
