Iowa city completes $100 million in sewer upgrades decades ahead of schedule

The city of Waterloo, Iowa has met the requirements of a federal consent decree issued in 2016 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State of Iowa. Originally expected to take up to 30 years, the city has met all obligations in just 10 years by investing more than $100 million in upgrades to its wastewater treatment system and sewer infrastructure. 

In 2015, the City entered into the consent decree to address longstanding infrastructure challenges and ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act. On January 20, 2016, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa formalized the agreement (Case No. 6:15-cv-02087), which mandated targeted infrastructure upgrades, operational reforms, and timely reporting to improve the city’s aging sanitary sewer system and protect Iowa’s waterways.

“This is a major victory for public health, environmental protection, and our city’s future,” said Mayor Quentin Hart. “Thanks to the dedication of our staff, community partners, and leadership across multiple departments, Waterloo now has a clean, safe, and reliable wastewater system that will serve families and fuel future development for generations to come.”

Key milestones achieved under the consent decree include:

• Implementation of a Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) Program
• Installation of a comprehensive hydraulic model and master plan
• Infrastructure upgrades to manage extreme wet weather events
• Completion of all remedial measures outlined by the EPA and Iowa Department of Natural Resources

With the legal support of Hall and Associates and city council backing, the Waterloo team worked diligently to meet every benchmark and eliminate threats to the Cedar River and downstream communities. These efforts have ended years of sewer backups, reduced overflows, and modernized the backbone of Waterloo’s wastewater infrastructure to support both public health and economic vitality.

“Waterloo residents deserve a system they can count on, and now they have one,” Hart added. “Not only have we built a more sanitary, environmentally responsible system, we’ve done it while still maintaining the lowest water and sewer rates among Iowa’s larger cities. This kind of smart investment positions us to support future housing, business, and industrial development.”

The project’s successful early completion underscores Waterloo’s commitment to environmental stewardship, transparency, and long-term infrastructure planning. With the consent decree officially satisfied, the City now shifts its focus from federal compliance to sustainable service expansion for decades to come.

 

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