Blackbelt Unincorporated Wastewater Project

One goal of this project is to provide necessary onsite wastewater treatment to a minimum of 175 homes in unincorporated areas of the Alabama Black Belt region to improve the health and quality of life for these residents and the local environment. The Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program (BBUWP) will provide onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems to an estimated 175 homes in the unincorporated areas of the Black Belt that currently have no proper wastewater disposal, poor soil conditions, and economic hardship; to include, homes with substandard onsite systems that are not working properly. This pilot project, to show how individual onsite systems can be managed, is funded by the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Lixil Americas, and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). Each home site will be inspected by a Bureau of Environmental Services’ soil scientists, and from the soil results determination will be made concerning which sewage disposal treatment type will be installed – Conventional Onsite Wastewater System, Advanced or an Innovative Treatment Wastewater System. Low-flow fixtures will be installed as part of each system design to minimize treatment and disposal volume. If selected, the property owner will agree to pay a one-time fee of $500.00 for a conventional system or $1,000.00 for an Advanced/Innovative Treatment System and a monthly fee of $20.00 per month for the life of the system for maintenance purposes. Location: Unincorporated areas in the Black Belt region of Alabama. Research: This demonstration project will establish and demonstrate the onsite wastewater management concept to local government, management, and regulatory entities. Some number of onsite wastewater systems being installed through the Black Belt Unincorporated Wastewater Program are being monitored and evaluated for treated effluent quality. These findings will be utilized in influencing future wastewater management improvement projects in the Alabama Black Belt.