Water, sewer systems to receive grants to repair, upgrade systems; emphasis placed in Black Belt

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Nearly 400 public water and sewer systems across the state of Alabama have applied for grants to repair and upgrade their systems under a special program funded with COVID-19 relief money and overseen by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

In a January Special Session, the Alabama Legislature approved spending $225 million out of the state’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to help public water and sewer systems with the greatest infrastructure needs as well as individual residents in need of water or sewer services. Included is funding specifically set aside for several trial projects to address unique sewer problems in the Black Belt that have plagued families for generations.

“This is an historic opportunity to address longstanding water and sewer needs to benefit hundreds of thousands, and potentially millions, of Alabamians,” said ADEM Director Lance LeFleur. “There is nothing more basic to good health than clean drinking water and sanitary wastewater disposal.”

Up to $120 million will be awarded to public water and sewer systems that have emergency or high needs projects. No local match funding is required for these projects. An additional $100 million in grants will be awarded to public water and sewer systems that may require local matching funds based on their ability to pay.

The Legislature also designated up to $5 million for demonstration sewer projects in the Black Belt. These projects will target problems such as soil conditions that prevent wastewater from septic systems from being absorbed into the ground, failing sewer or septic systems, the use of “straight pipes” in the absence of a functioning septic system or sewer service, and other issues related to poor, sparsely populated, rural areas of the Black Belt.

The high number of water and sewer systems applying for either drinking water or sewer grants — more than 37 percent of all public water and sewer systems in Alabama — “is an indication of the tremendous needs that exist among water and sewer systems,” LeFleur said .

Addressing sewage disposal problems in the Black Belt will be a priority. State Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville, said the funding could be life-changing for many people in his district, which includes the Black Belt counties of Lowndes and Wilcox.

“Whether you’re rich, poor, young or old, black or white, it doesn’t matter. Every citizen in the state of Alabama should be afforded the opportunity to have clean drinking water and also to dispose of their waste in a proper way so they won’t have to worry about dealing with health issues (that may result),” Lawrence said .

ADEM has encouraged public water and sewer systems to apply for the grants by April 1. LeFleur said systems that don’t meet that deadline can still apply for additional funding that is available and that ADEM is ready to assist systems that need help applying or simply want more information about the grants.

“It’s important for the public to understand that these grants will be awarded based on needs,” LeFleur said. “Those with the greatest needs and the least ability to pay are the priority.”

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