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DECATUR – Environmental watchdog group Tennessee Riverkeeper is looking to intervene in a lawsuit between the Alabama Attorney General and the city of Decatur over sewer overflows.

The motion to intervene was filed in state court late Monday evening. Tennessee Riverkeeper says in 2019  there were 50 sewer overflows totaling over 6-million gallons of untreated sewage entering Decatur waterways — in violation of the Clean Water Act. The environmental group originally filed an intent to sue the city — but the Attorney General’s Office took the case.

In a press release, Tennessee Riverkeeper’s David Whiteside said, “The Decatur Utilities Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) has had 245 total overflow violations, with an estimated total volume between 22,204,488 and 24,749,988 since April 2014, according to DU’s own reports.”

Riverkeeper is asking to intervene in the suit, stating that the environmental group and it’s members were “adversely affected” by the overflows.

Decatur Utilities declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation. Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling directed all questions to the attorney representing the city on the matter.

The Alabama Attorney General’s Office said it was aware of the motion and had no comment on the case.