Sewage

Sewage discharges are occurring throughout the entire Black Warrior River watershed. In order to discharge treated sewage, a facility is required to obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Black Warrior Riverkeeper has investigated compliance at 85 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and lagoons in the watershed and has found approximately 40% to be in violation of the federal Clean Water Act and the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act. Our findings indicate that partially treated and raw sewage is being discharged or spilled into streams throughout the watershed. When raw sewage is discharged into surface water it carries with it bacteria and pathogens that can be a threat to public health for years. Unlike many complacent local and state authorities, we see this as a major public health threat that needs to be eradicated. When we find a facility that is violating its permit, we encourage them to clean it up. If they do not show a good faith effort in working with us to clean up their sewage issues then we may have to take legal action to ensure they will stop illegally discharging.

To view maps showing wastewater treatment plant locations in Jefferson County, click here.

Resources:

Natural Resources Defense Council: "Swimming in Sewage"
http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/sewage/sewage.pdf

NRDC: Sewage Pollution Threatens Public Health
http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/sewage.asp

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: Healthy Water
http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/

American Rivers: Sewage and Stormwater
http://www.americanrivers.org/our-work/clean-water/sewage-and-stormwater/

Center for Watershed Protection:Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
http://www.cwp.org/Our_Work/Training/Institutes/sessionk_presentation_idde.pdf

Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act (S-937)
http://www.cleanwaternetwork.org/issues-actions/legislation/sewage-overflow-community-right-know

EPA: Clean Water State Revolving Fund
http://www.epa.gov/owm/cwfinance/cwsrf/

East Walker Co. WWTP discharges into the Mulberry Fork (Walker Co.)

Moundville Lagoon discharges into the Black Warrior (Hale Co.)