Jefferson County Sewer System: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Jeffco sewer manhole cover.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A Jefferson County Sewer manhole cover]] | [[File:Jeffco sewer manhole cover.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A Jefferson County Sewer manhole cover]] | ||
The '''Jefferson County Sanitary Sewer System''' is a public utility which captures sanitary wastewater from properties in [[Jefferson County]] and conducts it, through an expansive network of underground sewer pipes, to wastewater treatment plants where it is cleaned and returned to natural streams. | The '''Jefferson County Sanitary Sewer System''' is a public utility which captures sanitary wastewater from properties in [[Jefferson County]] and conducts it, through an expansive network of underground sewer pipes, to wastewater treatment plants where it is cleaned and returned to natural streams. As of [[2023]] the county manages more than 3,100 miles of sewer pipes and treats more than 100 million gallons of wastewater each day. | ||
The system was initially planned and constructed by the [[Jefferson County Sanitary Commission]], which was created in [[1901]] with the authority to levy a property tax of up to 0.5 mills to finance construction. [[Julian Kendrick]], [[Birmingham]]'s city engineer, laid out the original plan consisting of two westward-draining trunk lines: one running along the [[Valley Creek]] corridor to a point below [[Bessemer]], and one following [[Village Creek]] from [[East Lake]] to a point below [[Ensley]]. Both streams are tributaries of the [[Black Warrior River]]. | The system was initially planned and constructed by the [[Jefferson County Sanitary Commission]], which was created in [[1901]] with the authority to levy a property tax of up to 0.5 mills to finance construction. [[Julian Kendrick]], [[Birmingham]]'s city engineer, laid out the original plan consisting of two westward-draining trunk lines: one running along the [[Valley Creek]] corridor to a point below [[Bessemer]], and one following [[Village Creek]] from [[East Lake]] to a point below [[Ensley]]. Both streams are tributaries of the [[Black Warrior River]]. | ||
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Construction of the two-to-five-foot diameter trunk lines began in [[1902]], flowing into large septic tanks until more advanced treatment facilities could be designed. The fifteen-mile Valley Creek line was completed in [[1905]] at a cost of $282,024. The 10-mile Village Creek line, completed in [[1906]], was built for $107,966 with branches extended to [[Avondale]] and [[Woodlawn]] at additional cost. Birmingham connected its existing network, consisting of 58-miles of sewer pipe, to the new trunk lines and other municipalities with such systems, per [[Act 714 of 1901]], did the same. | Construction of the two-to-five-foot diameter trunk lines began in [[1902]], flowing into large septic tanks until more advanced treatment facilities could be designed. The fifteen-mile Valley Creek line was completed in [[1905]] at a cost of $282,024. The 10-mile Village Creek line, completed in [[1906]], was built for $107,966 with branches extended to [[Avondale]] and [[Woodlawn]] at additional cost. Birmingham connected its existing network, consisting of 58-miles of sewer pipe, to the new trunk lines and other municipalities with such systems, per [[Act 714 of 1901]], did the same. | ||
Operation of the septic tanks and the use of its effluent for agricultural purposes was contracted to [[Adler & Company]] in [[1905]]. | Operation of the septic tanks and the use of its effluent for agricultural purposes was contracted to [[Adler & Company]] in [[1905]]. Once the initial effort to plan and implement the main trunk lines and plants was completed, the Sanitary Commission was dissolved and the responsibility for managing and expanding the sewer system passed back to the County Commission. | ||
==Patton Creek / Cahaba River moratorium== | |||
On [[February 17]], [[1976]] with the system operating beyond its capacity, the [[Jefferson County Commission]] passed a resolution establishing a moratorium on new connections to the [[Patton Creek]] and [[Cahaba River]] sewer lines. A [[Jefferson County Sewer Moratorium Committee]] was established to administer the regulations. | |||
The resolution created exceptions for unimproved lots within already-approved subdivisions. The exceptions were repealed on [[September 17]], [[1977]]. On [[July 5]], [[1978]] the Commission created a new exception, for redevelopments which reduced net impacts on the system. | |||
==Sewer construction scandal== | ==Sewer construction scandal== | ||
{{Main|Jefferson County sewer construction scandal}} | {{Main|Jefferson County sewer construction scandal}} | ||
A [[1993]] lawsuit (''[[Kipp, et.al. v. Jefferson County]]'') filed on behalf of residents near the [[Cahaba River]] alleged that the sewer system allowed large amounts of untreated wastewater to enter the | A [[1993]] lawsuit (''[[Kipp, et.al. v. Jefferson County]]'') filed on behalf of residents near the [[Cahaba River]] alleged that the sewer system allowed large amounts of untreated wastewater to enter the waterway. The United States Department of Justice launched their own investigation, and filed their own suit against the county. | ||
The county settled both lawsuits | The county settled both lawsuits before [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama|District Court]] Judge [[J. Foy Guin Jr]] by signing a [[1996 Jefferson County consent decree|consent decree]] in December [[1996]]. The county agreed to make the improvements necessary to comply with the federal Clean Water Act, and to spend $30 million for the establishment of protective greenways to improve water quality in the Cahaba and [[Black Warrior River]] systems. | ||
As work began, rates paid by sewer customers began increasing, from among the lowest in the country to the highest. In [[2003]] an independent study by [[BE&K]] found shortcomings in the county's plans, and determined that much of the $3.3 billion spent on sewer expansion was not needed to meet the terms of the agreement. Among those expansions was a proposed $84 million "Super Sewer" to service the [[Upper Cahaba Watershed]] around [[Cahaba Heights]] and parts of [[Mountain Brook]]. The projected cost quickly soared to over $140 million until it was halted amid complaints from the [[Birmingham Water Works Board]] and the public. | As work began, rates paid by sewer customers began increasing, from among the lowest in the country to the highest. In [[2003]] an independent study by [[BE&K]] found shortcomings in the county's plans, and determined that much of the $3.3 billion spent on sewer expansion was not needed to meet the terms of the agreement. Among those expansions was a proposed $84 million "Super Sewer" to service the [[Upper Cahaba Watershed]] around [[Cahaba Heights]] and parts of [[Mountain Brook]]. The projected cost quickly soared to over $140 million until it was halted amid complaints from the [[Birmingham Water Works Board]] and the public. | ||
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==Facilities== | ==Facilities== | ||
* [[Cahaba River | * [[Cahaba River Water Reclamation Facility]] (built 1970), on the [[Cahaba River]] on [[Veona Daniels Road]] west of [[I-65]] surrounded by [[Hoover]] | ||
* [[Five Mile Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant]] | * [[Five Mile Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant]] (built 1978), on [[Five Mile Creek]] off [[Lower Coalburg Road]] north of [[Coalburg]] | ||
* [[Leeds | * [[Leeds Water Reclamation Facility]] (built 1995), in [[Dry Creek]] at the [[Little Cahaba River]], off [[Montevallo Road]] in [[Leeds]] | ||
* [[Prudes Creek | * [[Prudes Creek Water Reclamation Facility]] (built 1986) on [[Five Mile Creek]] below [[Prudes Creek]], off [[Cherry Avenue]] surrounded by [[Graysville]] | ||
* [[Trussville Wastewater Treatment Plant]] | * [[Trussville Wastewater Treatment Plant]] (built 1936), on [[Pinchgut Creek]] off [[U.S. Highway 11]] in [[Trussville]] | ||
* [[Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant]] | * [[Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant]] (built 2004), on [[Turkey Creek]] off [[Narrows Road]] west of [[Pinson]] | ||
* [[Warrior | * [[Valley Creek Water Reclamation Facility]] (built 1905), on [[Valley Creek]] off [[Bessemer-Johns Road]] west of [[Bessemer]] | ||
* [[Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility]] (built 2019), on [[Village Creek]] at [[Pleasant Hill Road]] in [[Sherman Heights]] | |||
* [[Warrior Water Reclamation Facility]] (built 2006), on [[Cane Creek]] off [[Cane Creek Road]] in [[Warrior]] | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (November 2001) "[ | * Knowles, Morris (January 6, 1912) "Water and Waste: The Sanitary Problems of a Modern Industrial District" in ''Birmingham: Smelting Iron Ore and Civics'', a special issue of ''The Survey''. Vol. 27, No. 14, pp. 1485-1500 | ||
* LaMonte, Edward S. (1974) George B. Ward: Birmingham's Urban Statesman. Birmingham: Birmingham Public Library/Oxmoor Press | |||
* Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (November 2001) "[https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_the_Jefferson_County_Sani/ffTKzgEACAAJ?hl=en The History of the Jefferson County Sanitary Sewer System]". | |||
* Howell, Vickii (September 24, 2000) "Jeffco sewer rates rising to finance system repairs." {{BN}} | * Howell, Vickii (September 24, 2000) "Jeffco sewer rates rising to finance system repairs." {{BN}} | ||
* Blackledge, Brett J. (September 16, 2003) "Report points to misspent millions management cited; taxpayers may see rates rise till 2011". {{BN}} | * Blackledge, Brett J. (September 16, 2003) "Report points to misspent millions management cited; taxpayers may see rates rise till 2011". {{BN}} | ||
Latest revision as of 15:57, 6 November 2023
The Jefferson County Sanitary Sewer System is a public utility which captures sanitary wastewater from properties in Jefferson County and conducts it, through an expansive network of underground sewer pipes, to wastewater treatment plants where it is cleaned and returned to natural streams. As of 2023 the county manages more than 3,100 miles of sewer pipes and treats more than 100 million gallons of wastewater each day.
The system was initially planned and constructed by the Jefferson County Sanitary Commission, which was created in 1901 with the authority to levy a property tax of up to 0.5 mills to finance construction. Julian Kendrick, Birmingham's city engineer, laid out the original plan consisting of two westward-draining trunk lines: one running along the Valley Creek corridor to a point below Bessemer, and one following Village Creek from East Lake to a point below Ensley. Both streams are tributaries of the Black Warrior River.
Construction of the two-to-five-foot diameter trunk lines began in 1902, flowing into large septic tanks until more advanced treatment facilities could be designed. The fifteen-mile Valley Creek line was completed in 1905 at a cost of $282,024. The 10-mile Village Creek line, completed in 1906, was built for $107,966 with branches extended to Avondale and Woodlawn at additional cost. Birmingham connected its existing network, consisting of 58-miles of sewer pipe, to the new trunk lines and other municipalities with such systems, per Act 714 of 1901, did the same.
Operation of the septic tanks and the use of its effluent for agricultural purposes was contracted to Adler & Company in 1905. Once the initial effort to plan and implement the main trunk lines and plants was completed, the Sanitary Commission was dissolved and the responsibility for managing and expanding the sewer system passed back to the County Commission.
Patton Creek / Cahaba River moratorium
On February 17, 1976 with the system operating beyond its capacity, the Jefferson County Commission passed a resolution establishing a moratorium on new connections to the Patton Creek and Cahaba River sewer lines. A Jefferson County Sewer Moratorium Committee was established to administer the regulations.
The resolution created exceptions for unimproved lots within already-approved subdivisions. The exceptions were repealed on September 17, 1977. On July 5, 1978 the Commission created a new exception, for redevelopments which reduced net impacts on the system.
Sewer construction scandal
A 1993 lawsuit (Kipp, et.al. v. Jefferson County) filed on behalf of residents near the Cahaba River alleged that the sewer system allowed large amounts of untreated wastewater to enter the waterway. The United States Department of Justice launched their own investigation, and filed their own suit against the county.
The county settled both lawsuits before District Court Judge J. Foy Guin Jr by signing a consent decree in December 1996. The county agreed to make the improvements necessary to comply with the federal Clean Water Act, and to spend $30 million for the establishment of protective greenways to improve water quality in the Cahaba and Black Warrior River systems.
As work began, rates paid by sewer customers began increasing, from among the lowest in the country to the highest. In 2003 an independent study by BE&K found shortcomings in the county's plans, and determined that much of the $3.3 billion spent on sewer expansion was not needed to meet the terms of the agreement. Among those expansions was a proposed $84 million "Super Sewer" to service the Upper Cahaba Watershed around Cahaba Heights and parts of Mountain Brook. The projected cost quickly soared to over $140 million until it was halted amid complaints from the Birmingham Water Works Board and the public.
Commissioners and Environmental Services director Jack Swann justified the expansions as a means of generating revenues from new connections to offset the costs of upgrades to existing systems. However, corrupt practices in contracting the engineering and construction work, as well as the risky financial instruments used to pay for it, began coming to light. In 2005 twenty-one officials and contractors were indicted for bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice. More than half of them were convicted in federal courts.
Meanwhile, the county's financial schemes collapsed on themselves, leaving the taxpayers with an enormous debt and forcing the county to default on bond payments and, in November 2011, to file what was then the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
Facilities
- Cahaba River Water Reclamation Facility (built 1970), on the Cahaba River on Veona Daniels Road west of I-65 surrounded by Hoover
- Five Mile Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (built 1978), on Five Mile Creek off Lower Coalburg Road north of Coalburg
- Leeds Water Reclamation Facility (built 1995), in Dry Creek at the Little Cahaba River, off Montevallo Road in Leeds
- Prudes Creek Water Reclamation Facility (built 1986) on Five Mile Creek below Prudes Creek, off Cherry Avenue surrounded by Graysville
- Trussville Wastewater Treatment Plant (built 1936), on Pinchgut Creek off U.S. Highway 11 in Trussville
- Turkey Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (built 2004), on Turkey Creek off Narrows Road west of Pinson
- Valley Creek Water Reclamation Facility (built 1905), on Valley Creek off Bessemer-Johns Road west of Bessemer
- Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility (built 2019), on Village Creek at Pleasant Hill Road in Sherman Heights
- Warrior Water Reclamation Facility (built 2006), on Cane Creek off Cane Creek Road in Warrior
References
- Knowles, Morris (January 6, 1912) "Water and Waste: The Sanitary Problems of a Modern Industrial District" in Birmingham: Smelting Iron Ore and Civics, a special issue of The Survey. Vol. 27, No. 14, pp. 1485-1500
- LaMonte, Edward S. (1974) George B. Ward: Birmingham's Urban Statesman. Birmingham: Birmingham Public Library/Oxmoor Press
- Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (November 2001) "The History of the Jefferson County Sanitary Sewer System".
- Howell, Vickii (September 24, 2000) "Jeffco sewer rates rising to finance system repairs." The Birmingham News
- Blackledge, Brett J. (September 16, 2003) "Report points to misspent millions management cited; taxpayers may see rates rise till 2011". The Birmingham News