The Past, Present, and Future of Wastewater Management in Alabama’s Black Belt

Abstract

The Alabama Black Belt was originally named for its dark, fertile topsoil, which was well suited for growing cotton, and in the early 1800s was once one of the most prosperous regions of the United States. Currently home to over half a million residents, the region is characterized by its rural character, lack of economic development (up to 40% of the population in some counties is below the US poverty line), lower-than-average educational attainment, and lower-than-average access to health care. Many areas in the region have dense clay soils that swell when wet and become practically impermeable to water, making them unsuitable for conventional septic system drainfields. Although many residents are connected to centralized sewer networks, these centralized treatment systems have a history of permit violations. These socioeconomic and geographical challenges, along with the high cost of more advanced alternative on-site wastewater systems, have resulted in raw wastewater on the ground in many locales, which is a public health and environmental justice concern. In this paper, we describe the existing conditions, explain the ongoing challenges with wastewater management in the region, and propose a number of future solutions for this complex problem. The proposed solutions include developing appropriate funding, upgrading and expanding centralized sewer networks, developing decentralized cluster systems, updating regulations, digitizing permit data, developing responsible management entities, improving education and outreach programs, developing operator training and certification for decentralized systems, and adopting low-flow plumbing fixtures. Aside from public health and environmental considerations, proper wastewater management is an important infrastructure for economic development and revitalization of this proud and once-prosperous region. Although the efforts discussed in this paper focus on the Alabama Black Belt, they are also relevant to other geographical regions that have limited access to centralized sewer networks and the soil, climate, and/or geological conditions that prevent the implementation of conventional on-site wastewater treatment systems. The Alabama Black Belt is a rural area where many residents live below the poverty line. The soil contains high concentrations of clays that resist water percolation, making it unsuitable for septic tank systems. The combination of low annual household incomes, sparse population, and poorly drained soils has led to challenges with managing wastewater for both centralized and decentralized/on-site systems, with some homes relying on failing or even nonexistent sewage treatment systems. This paper describes the current situation and the ongoing and proposed practical efforts to address these challenges by increasing access to funding mechanisms, improving centralized wastewater treatment facilities, developing applicable decentralized wastewater management structures, updating regulations, and digitalizing permit data. Proper wastewater treatment is important not only for protecting human and environmental health but also for promoting economic growth. Other areas of the country with similar socioeconomic and geographical characteristics are also facing comparable challenges.