(MOBILE, Ala.) - A lawsuit may force the city to finally clean up local waterways. Each and every time Mobile gets a heavy rain, the result is the same: mounds of trash, litter and debris throughout the city is flushed into Dog River and eventually into Mobile Bay.

The Dog River Clear Water Revival Group is working to change what's happening along the river. It wants to install litter traps in tributaries that would collect and retain trash. The group has raised around $120,000 to purchase a trap, but group Treasurer Bruce Coldsmith says there's one problem: the city.

"Well, at first we raised the money for the litter barrier, the city said they wouldn't clean it. Then we raised volunteers to clean it, and they said they wouldn't provide a dumpster to put the trash in. So it's been very frustrating," said Coldsmith.

So frustrating, the group has threatened to sue the city in federal court for violating the Clean Water Act. Wednesday, a letter of intent was filed by the group's attorney and delivered to city leaders.

We tried to ask John Bell who oversees the storm water system about the trash problem, but he declined comment.

"I am not going to discuss it," Bell said.

Environmental watchdog group Mobile Baykeeper says the city has neglected the storm water system for years. Executive Director Casi Callaway says the city should applaud the private group's effort to keep the river clean, not ignore it.

"Dog River Clearwater Revival has come to the city a number of times to say 'help us. We'll raise the money to pay for the system. We just need your help maintaining it.' It is a wonderful public-private partnership that would cost the city very little, with staff they already have. And the city has turned their nose up to them over and over again," said Callaway.

The group is still hopeful change will come sooner rather than later.

"It needs to be yesterday. Tomorrow won't quite be soon enough," said Coldsmith.