Jefferson County Consent Decree — 20 Years and Counting

The Jefferson County Commission (County) entered into a Consent Decree, Civil Actions No. 93-G-2492-S and No. 93-G-2947-S, Consolidated, (Decree) in December 1996 following complaints of unpermitted discharges of untreated wastewater into the Black Warrior and Cahaba River Basins. Since that time, the County’s Environmental Services Department (ESD) who operates the sewer system has made considerable efforts towards compliance with many successes and lessons learned. During the span of two decades, the County has overcome unique and extraordinary obstacles including corruption convictions at all levels within the organization, limited access to capital funds, federal receivership, bankruptcy, and massive reductions in the workforce. Like many other wastewater utilities during this same time, the County also faced pressures from the ever evolving expectations of regulators and the public, limited authority to address private property I/I, continually degrading infrastructure, and hiring and training the next generation of wastewater professionals. The County has found that a well-developed and adequately funded asset management program is needed to effectively and efficiently improve system performance and meet its obligations.