The City of Tuscaloosa has over 700 plus miles of sewer collection lines with 66 active lift stations and over 12,000 manholes. The Water & Sewer Department also operates the Hilliard N. Fletcher Water Resource Recovery Facility, which treats over 17 million gallons of wastewater each day. The Water & Sewer Department provides uninterrupted clean water and sewer services to Tuscaloosa residents.
Additionally, the collections network of the Water & Sewer Department has a robust maintenance plan which includes acoustic pipe inspection, closed-circuit TV pipe inspection, gravity line maintenance cleaning, gravity line replacement, system point repairs, manhole inspection, manhole rehabilitation, system smoke testing, and a formal Fats, Oils & Grease (FOG) program.
Finally, an achievement that the department is especially proud of is reducing the number of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) per year to a fraction of what it was in previous years. SSOs have been reduced by over 80% since 2009. This improvement is primarily due to the increased frequency of sewer manhole and line inspection, cleaning, and rehabilitation, combined with the City's formally adopted Fats/Oils/Grease (FOG) Management Program.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 6/18/2026
Discharge Volume: 16,800 gallons approximately
Location: Investigator Dornell Cousette Street & Kaulton Road
Latitude: 33.178455
Longitude: -87.569828
Destination: Unnamed tributary to Cypress Creek
Cause: Heavy Rains
Failure: The City of Tuscaloosa's Water Resource & Recovery Facility received SCADA alarms that overflows were impending in the vicinity of Investigator Dornell Cousette Street & Kaulton Road. Upon SSO investigation, confirmation was made of an active manhole discharge due to heavy rainfall. SSO signage was immediately posted at the site. In utilizing spillage charts & field observation, discharge volumes were calculated at 200gpm x 84 min=16,800 gallons. The Operations Technical Services group is continuing to monitor the site and is conducting water sample collection for lab testing. The overflow has ended. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department as well as the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified/cc
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 6/18/2026
Discharge Volume: 34,300 gallons approximately
Location: 4,000 block of Reese Phifer Avenue
Latitude: 33.170565
Longitude: -87.564148
Destination: Unnamed tributary to Cribbs Mill Creek
Cause: Heavy Rains
Failure: The City of Tuscaloosa's Water Resource & Recovery Facility received SCADA alarms that overflows were impending at the 4400 block of Reese Phifer Avenue. Upon SSO investigation, confirmation was made that manholes were actively discharging due to heavy rainfall. SSO signages were immediately posted at the site. In utilizing spillage charts & field observation, discharge amounts were calculated at 175gpm x 196 min=34,300 gallons. The Operations Technical Services group is continuing to monitor the site and is conducting water sample collection for lab testing. The discharge has ended. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 5/21/2026
Discharge Volume: 500 gallons approximately
Location: Brook Meadows Cir
Latitude: 33.186997
Longitude: -87.530788
Destination: SD to Cribbs Mill Creek
Cause: Debris
Failure: City crews responded to a private lateral cleanout discharging in Brook Meadows Cir.. Once on-site crews identified that the city main line was blocked. Crews utilized jet truck to remove blockage which restored flow and ended to the discharge. Crews placed out pure green 24 for disinfectant. SSO signage is in place. Follow-up CCTV inspection is scheduled. SSO volume and duration was calculated via field observation.The Tuscaloosa County Health Department as well as the Alabama Department of Environmental Management are being notified.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 5/16/2026
Discharge Volume: 1,000-gallons approximately
Location: 700 Block of Heritage Dr.
Latitude: 33.227943
Longitude: -87.556496
Destination: UT to Black Warrior River
Cause: Broken Sewer Line
Failure: City crews were dispatch to the 700 Block of Heritage Dr. Once on-site crews identified sewer discharging which was attributed to a broken sewer line. Repairs crews were dispatched. Once on-site crews made permanent repairs which ended the discharge. Crews placed out pure green 24 for disinfectant. SSO signage is in place. SSO volume and duration was calculated via field observation. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department as well as the Alabama Department of Environmental Management are being notified.