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 formalized FOG program.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 10/7/2024
Discharge: 48,000 gallons approximately
Location: 10000 Block of Progress Dr.
Latitude: 33.188057
Longitude: -87.317166
Destination: Little Hurricane Creek
Cause: ARV Failure
Failure: City staff responded to a MH discharge in the 10000 Block of Progress Dr. Once on site crews observed a discharge due to an ARV failure. Vacuum trucks were utilized to mitigate discharge while repairs were made. Crews placed out pure green 24 and lime for disinfectant. SSO volume and duration was calculated via SCADA, MH spillage chart and field observation. SSO signage is in place. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and The Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 9/19/2024
Discharge: 8,000 gallons approximately
Location: 1000 Block of Maxwell Loop Rd
Latitude: 33.111757
Longitude: -87.557077
Destination: SD to UT to Little Sandy Creek
Cause: Lift Station Equipment Failure
Failure: City staff responded to a high wet well alarm at LS43. Once on site, crews observed a discharge at the lift station due to pump failure. Vacuum trucks were utilized to mitigate discharge until lift station pumps could be repaired/replaced. Crews placed out pure green 24 and lime for disinfectant. SSO volume and duration was calculated via SCADA, MH spillage chart and field observation. SSO signage is in place and door notification was place at nearby residence. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and The Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.