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: 5/10/2024
Discharge: 55,000 gallons approximately
Location: 6400 block of Garner Rd
Latitude: 33.144058
Longitude: -87.488930
Destination: UT to Rum Creek to Cypress Creek
Cause: Broken line
Failure: The City's Operations Technical Services group assessed an SSO upstream of plugged manholes necessary for sewer line repairs to be performed. SSO signage is in place and the affected areas were cleaned & disinfected. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 5/10/2024
Discharge: 500 gallons approximately
Location: 5th Ave E. & 23rd St E.
Latitude: 33.190038
Longitude: -87.530177
Destination: UT to Cribbs Mill Creek
Cause: Debris
Failure: The City's Operations Technical Services group assessed an SSO at the intersection of 5th Ave E and 23rd St E. Jet/vac trucks were utilized to remove blockage which ended the discharge. SSO signage is in place and the affected areas were cleaned & disinfected. CCTV follow up investigation is scheduled for Monday 5-13-24. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 5/9/2024
Discharge: 2,000 gallons approximately
Location: Garner Rd
Latitude: 33.144115
Longitude: -87.489111
Destination: UT to Rum Creek
Cause: Broken Sewer Line
Failure: The City's Operations Technical Services group assessed an SSO on a City ROW off of Garner Rd. The SSO was attributed to a broken sewer line. City contractors mobilized bypass pumps on site which ended the discharge. Repairs are scheduled for 5-10-24. Affected areas were cleaned & disinfected. SSO signage was placed. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 5/8/2024
Discharge: 5,250 gallons approximately
Location: Lift Station #40 @ 15911 Progress Drive
Latitude: 33.188086
Longitude: -87.314461
Destination: Little Hurricane Creek
Cause: Lift Station Equipment Failure
Failure: The City's Operations Technical Services group assessed an SSO at the City's Pump Station #40. Techs determined that the cause of the overflow was due to pump air lock. Repairs were performed and the SSO has ended. Affected areas were cleaned & disinfected. SSO signage was placed. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Notice
Date: 4/18/2024
Discharge: 1000 gal. approx.
Location: 100 Block of 15th St.
Latitude: 33.199806
Longitude: -87.535953
Destination: UT to Cribbs Mill Creek
Cause: Failed/Damaged/Collapsed Sewer Line
Failure: The City's Operations Technical Services group assessed a broken sewer line in the 100 Block of 15th St.. City contractors were dispatched to make repairs to the broken sewer line. Affected area was cleaned & disinfected. SSO signage was placed. The Tuscaloosa County Health Department and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management have been notified.