Sewage Right To Know
Failing sewage treatment systems that allow raw sewage to overflow into rivers and streams is a chronic problem across Alabama. According to information reported to state agencies, there were more than 1200 sewage spills across Alabama in 2016 alone. In 2017, Alabama Rivers Alliance signed on with all 8 Waterkeeper organizations in Alabama to ask the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to improve the system of public notification required by wastewater treatment utilities in order to better alert the public of sewage spills. The Environmental Management Commission determined in April 2017 that this issue was worth considering for rule-making. They referred it to the rule-making committee for further study and stakeholder input.
As part of an overall effort to improve reporting and public notification of sewage overflows, ADEM released two new tools.
The first tool is a map which allows citizens to identify the exact location of all current spills in the state. Click here to see the map. The second tool is an OPT-IN email notification system that will inform citizens of a sewage spill in their selected county or counties.
To sign up to receive the email notifications, citizens will need to follow these steps:
- Visit the Alabama Department of Environmental Management website at www.adem.alabama.gov or by clicking here.
- On the left sidebar, enter your e-mail address for ADEM email notifications, then click submit
- Check the last box to be notified of Sanitary Sewer Overflows
- Select the counties you live and recreate in and then click submit
Featured photo credit to Mobile Baykeeper.
- coming soon
Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Cahaba Riverkeeper, Choctawhatchee Riverkeeper, Coosa Riverkeeper, Friends of Hurricane Creek, Little River Waterkeeper, Mobile Baykeeper and Tennessee Riverkeeper
- Contact your legislator and let them know you support updated Sewage Notification Tools.
- Donate to ARA today!
- Sign up for emails from ARA to stay up-to-date on dam safety issues in Alabama.
