A Message From The Commissioner
Water is critical not just to our lives, but to
our quality of life. That is the philosophy that we in the Department
of Watershed Management live by. It is what guides our efforts as we work
to ensure that Atlanta’s streams and rivers continue to provide clean,
safe drinking water for our customers and our downstream neighbors.
Atlanta’s water and wastewater systems are old by most
standards. Older systems can leak and cause contamination and
pollution, and they were not designed to support the population that
now depends on them. These old systems create problems for the Chattahoochee
River, which our City, as well as downstream communities, depend on
for drinking water, recreation and, importantly, as a discharge point
for our treated wastewater.
Clean Water Atlanta is Mayor Shirley Franklin’s plan to
address these issues. Mayor Franklin understands that our water and
sewer infrastructure is reaching a critical point, so she asked Georgia
Tech President Wayne Clough to convene a panel of national experts to determine
how best to face the challenge. Clean Water Atlanta was the Clough
Panel’s answer. The $3.9 billion program represents nothing less than a
total overhaul of our water and wastewater infrastructure, an overhaul that
will ensure clean, safe drinking water for Atlantans and for their children
and grandchildren.
At the same time we are undertaking this monumental program, we are continuing
to provide the services you need every day installing, reading and repairing
meters, responding to emergency situations, sending out accurate, easy-to-understand
bills, cleaning catch basins and treating your drinking water and your wastewater.
These efforts result in drinking water that meets and, in most cases, exceeds,
all federal and state water quality standards. In fact, we are constantly testing
our water to ensure that this remains true.
The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is committed to sustaining
the health of its customers and to maintaining the quality of life that has
made Atlanta one of the country’s most attractive and livable cities. We appreciate
your support as we continue to fulfill our mission of providing clean drinking
water to you, your families and your friends and neighbors.
— Robert Hunter
Keep up with Clean Water Atlanta updates.
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