Alabama Files Lawsuit Against Tuscaloosa for 41M Gallons of Sewage Discharge: City Responds Strongly
The state of Alabama and its Department of Environmental Management have recently filed a lawsuit against the city of Tuscaloosa over the alleged discharge of 41 million gallons of sewage into local waterways since 2018. In response, the city of Tuscaloosa has vigorously defended itself, citing misinterpretations and missing information in the news coverage of the lawsuit.
At a pre-council briefing, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and City Councilor Kip Tyner expressed their frustrations with the media’s handling of the story. Tyner, who had invited Kimberly Michael, the executive director of the water and sewer department, to his community affairs TV show, criticized al.com for what he deemed an irresponsible story.
During the briefing, Mayor Maddox highlighted that 99.9% of the 32 billion gallons of sewage treated during the alleged period had been properly handled. He also emphasized that most of the reported issues were a result of historic flooding events, and that the data used in the lawsuit came from the city’s own website.
On Tyner’s TV show, Michael specifically addressed questions regarding the spills, asserting that the city had been working diligently on solving this problem for several years. Mayor Maddox further emphasized the city’s commitment to transparency, saying that Tuscaloosa not only reports everything to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), but also goes beyond legal requirements by providing personal notifications and making the information available on their website.
The city of Tuscaloosa has invested approximately $300 million in improving its water and sewer systems. This includes projects such as the Ed Love Raw Water Station and Lift Station No. 3, as well as the rehabilitation and repair of a 1990s line extended to the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International plant in Vance. These infrastructure improvements aim to meet the needs of Tuscaloosa’s rapidly growing population.
Mayor Maddox indicated that some voices critical of the city’s handling of the sewage issue had not actively supported the infrastructure work in the past. He maintained that the city’s water and sewer infrastructure plans had not received the attention they deserved.
The lawsuit, filed by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, alleges that Tuscaloosa violated the Clean Water Act and the Alabama Water Pollution Control Act by exceeding the permitted limits for pollutant discharge outlined in the city’s ADEM permit. The state claims that 111 tests conducted since 2018 showed Tuscaloosa exceeding the allowed amount of pollutants, with more than 40 violations in August 2023 alone. The lawsuit also mentions over 360 sanitary sewer overflows, many of which occurred during heavy rain or due to broken lines. The city is being asked to pay civil penalties for each violation.
The Southern Environmental Law Center, representing the Black Warrior Riverkeeper and Friends of Hurricane Creek, has petitioned the court to join the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Tuscaloosa continues to work hand in hand with ADEM to expand and enhance its water and sewer system, ensuring compatibility with the needs of its growing population.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how the case will play out and what impact it will have on the city of Tuscaloosa. However, it is clear that the city officials are determined to tirelessly address the issue, safeguarding not only the environment but also the well-being of their community.
