Uniontown group hopes to be heard by state regulators on sewage problem

Published: Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 11:00 p.m. Last Modified: Friday, June 20, 2014 at 12:21 a.m.

In 2012, Uniontown received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was to be paired with $2.5 million in municipal bonds to stop a decade-old problem of sewage seeping from its wastewater treatment system into nearby creeks and tributaries.

Repairs were made to the towns aged, cracked sewer lines, and its wastewater treatment plant was updated with new treatment technology and a new pump station.

The final step was the construction of a new sprayfield, where the treated wastewater would be sprayed and seep back into the ground.

But although the sprayfield is now complete, it sits unused.

The reason: The sprayfield was constructed before the soil was tested for permeability. The soil test was done only after local residents expressed concern, after construction was nearly complete on the site.

Tests proved that the soil was incompatible with a sprayfield.

John Stevens of Sentell Engineering, engineer on the project, said the hydrogeologic testing was not done because it was not required by the state.

We chose not to do a test because (ADEM) didnt require it, Stevens said. They told us that at that time the old sprayfield was very marginal at best. They said get another sprayfield the same size and well be in good shape. Thats just the way it is, and we took their word for it.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management has since halted the use of the new sprayfield.

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Uniontown group hopes to be heard by state regulators on sewage problem