Safeguarding Birmingham's Drinking Water
SELC takes legal action to defend local water authority
©Beth Young
The Black Warrior River
On behalf of two Alabama conservation groups, the Southern Environmental Law Center is seeking the legal means to help protect water quality in the Cahaba and Black Warrior rivers. The two rivers provide the majority of drinking water for the Birmingham metropolitan area, and both are considered impaired according to federal standards.
The Cahaba River Society and the Black Warrior Riverkeeper filed a motion to intervene in a March 2006 lawsuit brought by development interests against the local Storm Water Management Authority (SWMA), which monitors and protects Jefferson County's watersheds. The Business Alliance for Responsible Development filed suit against SWMA, claiming in part that the local agency's storm water management activities exceed its authority. The outcome of the suit could set a precedent for the future of the stormwater authority and other local water protection efforts.
Polluted storm water runoff from construction sites and developed areas is the greatest threat to water quality in the Cahaba watershed and a growing concern in the Black Warrior watershed and much of the South. Sediment and nutrients in streams harm aquatic habitat, trigger algae growth, and increase the cost to purify water for public consumption. Storm water runoff also contains toxic contaminants such as pesticides and gasoline, and the increased runoff from pavement and roofs contributes to flooding.
The Cahaba River Society and Black Warrior Riverkeeper are non-profit organizations founded to protect their namesake rivers and watersheds. Together they have nearly 3,000 members working to save the rivers that provide habitat for diverse species as well as an affordable source of drinking water for residents of Jefferson County.
SELC, by intervening in this suit, hopes to ensure the ability of local governments to safeguard their own water supplies. With increased business and residential development, local water authorities such as SWMA are the first line of defense, enforcing runoff regulations, inspecting storm water sites and monitoring pollution in streams, and keeping residents informed of important water issues.
