Chattahoochee Riverkeeper sues Atlanta for wastewater discharge
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The R.M. Clayton plant on the Chattahoochee River in Atlanta. Photo: Courtesy of Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is taking Atlanta back to court over pollution from the city's largest wastewater plant into our most famous waterway.
Why it matters: The nonprofit's federal lawsuit, filed Friday, could force additional city investment in Atlanta's aging wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
Zoom in: According to the Riverkeeper, the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation plant repeatedly discharged excessive amounts of poorly treated wastewater containing harmful levels of E. coli and chemicals into the Chattahoochee.
- From July 2023 to July 2024, the plant off Bolton Road on Atlanta's far westside violated permitted limits at least 79 times, the nonprofit says.
- Water sampling by the Riverkeeper also found high levels of organic material and chemicals that can stress the Chattahoochee's fish and other aquatic life.
Catch up quick: In July, the Riverkeeper gave the city 60 days to address the outstanding issues at the treatment facility or meet them in court.
- Al Wiggins Jr., the city's department of watershed management commissioner, proposed working together to find a solution and avoid a lawsuit.
What they're saying: "For months, the city has failed to alleviate very real public health and environmental concerns at the R.M. Clayton facility," senior attorney Hutton Brown of the Southern Environmental Law Center, which is representing the Riverkeeper, said in a statement.
- "Because Atlanta's leadership did not step up and show they're serious about fixing this problem, we had no choice but to step in and ask the court to hold them accountable."
The other side: Peter Aman, the city's chief strategy officer, told the AJC in August that city had addressed most of the outstanding issues.
- Since that time, Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement released Friday to the news outlet, R.M. Clayton's water discharges are within permitted levels.
- A representative of Dickens did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
Flashback: Under founding director Sally Bethea, the group began a David vs. Goliath battle with the city in 1995 over regular spills into the Chattahoochee.
- A federal judge ordered Atlanta to overhaul the poorly maintained and antiquated sewer system.
Context: Many of the improvements are funded by a one-cent sales tax paid by residents, commuters and out-of-towners. Voters renewed the tax in 2024.