City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management
The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is the municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater utility serving 165,000+ residential, commercial, and wholesale accounts within the City of Atlanta service territory. It operates treatment plants, sewer networks, and green infrastructure under federal consent decrees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management does
The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) is the municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater utility for the City of Atlanta, Georgia, serving 165,000+ water accounts across the city and adjacent Fulton County areas. The department operates two drinking water plants, three wastewater treatment plants, seven combined sewer overflow treatment facilities, 16 sewage pump stations, 2,500+ miles of water mains, and 1,500+ miles of sanitary and combined sewers. It is structured into seven offices covering the Commissioner, Linear Infrastructure Operations, Water Treatment and Reclamation, Engineering Services, Financial Administration, Watershed Protection, and Customer Care and Billing.
DWM's technology stack centers on GIS and hydraulic modeling for leak detection and distribution system management, ArcGIS-based public Water Service Interruptions mapping, and the SwiftComply digital reporting platform for backflow prevention compliance. It has built a differentiated green infrastructure portfolio — rain gardens, permeable pavers, bioretention features, bioswales, and constructed wetlands — financed in part by the $14M Environmental Impact Bond issued in January 2019, the first publicly issued EIB in the U.S. public bond market and only the second in the country.
Revenue is generated through ratepayer-funded water service charges, wastewater collection and treatment fees, stormwater management fees, grease management permits ($300-$2,400 annually based on trap count), and capital programs underwritten by the dedicated Municipal Option Sales Tax ($147M annually), revenue bonds, and federal grants. The FY21 operating budget was $644M. Distribution is exclusively through direct municipal service within the City of Atlanta franchise area, supported by ATL 311, the payatlwateronline.com portal, physical customer service locations, and community outreach via the NPU Ambassador program.
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management
- Legal name
- City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
- Website
- https://atlantawatershed.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management is the municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater utility serving 165,000+ residential, commercial, and wholesale accounts within the City of Atlanta service territory. It operates treatment plants, sewer networks, and green infrastructure under federal consent decrees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Utilities (221)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro industry
- Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities AdministrationBusiness & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Local/Municipal Government AdministrationCombined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Treatment & Wet-Weather CapacityEnergy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Wastewater Treatment & Reuse (Municipal/Industrial)Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks)Business & Public Services/Waste Management & Remediation Services/Wastewater & Septage Management ServicesWater & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA)Energy, Utilities & Environment/Environmental Compliance, Monitoring & Consulting/Regulatory Compliance & Auditing (Air, Water, Waste)Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater)Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration
Keywords
Where City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Water Service Charges: Monthly billing for water consumption and distribution services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Fees include deposits ($80 for standard meters) and account establishment fees ($15).
- Wastewater Collection and Treatment: Charges for wastewater collection and treatment services to residential and commercial customers.
- Stormwater Management Fees: Fees for stormwater management services including regulatory compliance, infrastructure maintenance, and green infrastructure programs.
- Grease Management Permits: Permit fees for food service facilities based on number of grease traps required ($300-$2,400 depending on trap count).
- Environmental Impact Bond Financing: $14 million raised through Environmental Impact Bond for Proctor Creek green infrastructure projects with Rockefeller Foundation support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Senior Citizen Discount - 30% reduction on water and sewer bills |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single-Family Toilet Rebate - $75 per toilet |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Multifamily Toilet Rebate - $100 per toilet |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Service Deposits and Fees |
| Unit Pricing | Annual | Grease Management Permit Fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management provides municipal drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater management services to residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers within the City of Atlanta service area. The department also administers customer service programs, conservation rebates, regulatory compliance programs (backflow prevention and grease management), and large-scale infrastructure capital improvement projects.
Product overview
The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management provides integrated water resource management services through three core offerings: drinking water (treatment and distribution to 165,000+ accounts), wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater management. The department operates the $4 billion Clean Water Atlanta Program and Capital Improvement Program for infrastructure overhaul, supplemented by customer-facing services including the DWM Customer Payment Portal, Water Service Interruptions Map, and various assistance programs (Care and Conserve, Senior Citizen Discount, Toilet Rebate). Environmental initiatives include Green Infrastructure projects, the $14M Environmental Impact Bond for Proctor Creek, and regulatory compliance programs for backflow prevention and grease management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Water Service
- Wastewater Collection and Treatment
Quantifiable outcome
- 0 water quality violations
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.
- The Conservation FundmajorNonprofit conservation organization working with DWM on Greensferry Stream & Floodplain Restoration and Valley of the Hawks Constructed Wetlands projects in Proctor Creek Watershed.
- West Atlanta Watershed AlliancemajorLocal environmental organization and Water Equity Task Force partner supporting community engagement and green infrastructure initiatives in Atlanta watersheds.
- Partnership for Southern EquitymajorEquity organization and Water Equity Task Force partner working to ensure EIB program achieves equitable outcomes for Proctor Creek communities.
- Eco-ActionmajorEnvironmental advocacy organization and Water Equity Task Force partner for Proctor Creek watershed restoration efforts.
- Park PrideminorPartner in EIB community engagement and green infrastructure projects including Greensferry restoration visioning.
- Chattahoochee RiverkeepermajorEnvironmental advocacy organization monitoring and protecting Chattahoochee River. Collaborates with DWM on watershed protection initiatives.
- WorkSource AtlantaminorCity's workforce development agency incorporated into EIB program to provide training, work experience, and employment opportunities for local residents in green infrastructure construction and maintenance.
- Greening YouthminorTraining organization partnering with DWM for green jobs workforce development in EIB-funded projects.
- SouthfaceminorEnvironmental training organization partnering with DWM for green infrastructure workforce development.
- Water Equity Task ForcecoreMulti-organizational task force including US Water Alliance members working to ensure EIB program achieves authentic community engagement and local workforce development objectives.
- City of Atlanta Department of City PlanningmajorPartnership for NPU Ambassador program providing department representatives at monthly Neighborhood Planning Unit meetings across the city.
- Atlanta Beltline Inc.minorPartner in EIB projects and green infrastructure initiatives supporting urban revitalization and environmental equity.
Scale indicators24 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights2 records
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection: Largest municipal water/wastewater utility in the U.S., serving 8M+ residents. Operates similar drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater mandates under federal consent decrees; useful benchmark for scale and program complexity.
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Municipal water, wastewater, and power utility with leading green infrastructure and climate-resilience programs. Comparable on innovation adoption and stormwater management policy leadership.
- Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago: Regional wastewater and stormwater agency serving Cook County, IL. Comparable scale of treatment operations, capital program governance, and federal consent-decree compliance work.
- Seattle Public Utilities: Municipal water, wastewater, solid waste, and drainage utility with strong environmental leadership. Comparable on green infrastructure programs and climate adaptation strategy.
Direct peers
- DC Water: Comparable mid-large municipal water/wastewater utility serving the District of Columbia. DC Water issued the first Environmental Impact Bond in the U.S., making it the closest comparison to Atlanta's EIB-based green infrastructure financing model.
- Boston Water and Sewer Commission: Independent mid-size municipal water/wastewater utility serving Boston. Comparable in combined sewer system challenges, customer base size, and rate-funded capital programs.
- Philadelphia Water Department: Major municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater utility operating extensive combined sewer infrastructure under federal consent decrees — directly comparable to Atlanta's $4B Clean Water Atlanta Program.
- Houston Water (City of Houston): Large municipal water/wastewater utility previously led by Atlanta's current Commissioner Greg Eyerly. Comparable in scale, combined sewer system challenges, and Texas-style capital program execution.
- Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission: Bi-county water and wastewater utility serving Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, MD. Comparable in scale, federal consent-decree exposure, and customer demographics to Atlanta's service area.
- LA Sanitation & Environment (City of Los Angeles): Large municipal wastewater and stormwater agency operating under multiple consent decrees with capital programs of comparable scale; useful benchmark for combined sewer overflow management.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management social profiles
Digital presenceCity of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management
What does City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management do?
The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management provides municipal drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, and stormwater management services to residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale customers within the City of Atlanta service area. The department also administers customer service programs, conservation rebates, regulatory compliance programs (backflow prevention and grease management), and large-scale infrastructure capital improvement projects.
Is City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management a public or private company?
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management founded?
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management was founded in 2002. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management based?
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Water Service Charges are the primary driver. The others are wastewater Collection and Treatment, stormwater Management Fees, grease Management Permits and environmental Impact Bond Financing.
Who are City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are New York City Department of Environmental Protection, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and Seattle Public Utilities. Direct peers are DC Water, Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Philadelphia Water Department, Houston Water (City of Houston), Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and LA Sanitation & Environment (City of Los Angeles).
Does City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management.
What industry is City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management in?
City of Atlanta Department, Watershed Management's product category is Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAG, Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration, with a secondary code of EUANADAF, Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Treatment & Wet-Weather Capacity. Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4941.