09/03/2026
EAST ALABAMA WWTP
ODOR CONCERNS & COMMUNITY UPDATE
East Alabama WWTP would first like to apologize to our neighbors and surrounding community for the odors that have recently been experienced near the wastewater treatment plant. We understand that these odors can be unpleasant, and we want our community to know that we are aware of the concerns and are diligently working to address them.
Recent hot temperatures and high humidity have also contributed to an increase in noticeable odors. Warmer conditions can increase biological activity and the production of odor-causing compounds in wastewater, while humid and still air can allow odors to linger closer to the ground rather than dispersing as quickly. These weather conditions can make normal wastewater-treatment odors seem stronger and carry farther into surrounding areas. While weather is beyond our control, we are continuing to take steps to minimize odors from plant operations as much as reasonably possible.
East Alabama Water District has invested more than $100,000 over the past several months in equipment and improvements specifically aimed at reducing odors at the facility. Some of this specialized equipment must be manufactured before it can be delivered and installed, so these improvements cannot happen overnight. We appreciate everyone's patience while we work through this process.
ADEM is aware of the odor concerns and is also aware of the steps we are taking to address them as quickly as possible.
We would also like to clarify some information regarding the tanker trucks that deliver waste to our facility. East Alabama WWTP accepts both landfill leachate and septic waste for treatment. Landfill leachate is liquid, including rainwater, that has filtered through landfill waste and is collected for proper treatment. It is not the same as septic waste. Septic trucks deliver wastewater pumped from septic tanks, and because this material may have remained in a septic tank for an extended period, unloading and treating it can temporarily produce strong odors.
Regardless of whether wastewater reaches our facility through a sewer system or is transported from a septic tank, our responsibility is to properly treat that wastewater before it is discharged.
The trucks do not dump their loads into the river, nor does East Alabama WWTP discharge untreated tanker waste directly into the river.
Tanker loads are discharged into our approximately 3-acre equalization basin. From there, the wastewater is decanted back to the plant headworks and goes through our wastewater treatment process, including treatment through our SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactor) system. Following treatment, the wastewater is disinfected using sodium hypochlorite and then dechlorinated using sodium bisulfite before the treated effluent is discharged.
Wastewater treatment facilities, by their nature, can occasionally produce odors, and eliminating every odor is not always possible. However, we take the concerns of our neighbors seriously and will continue working to reduce odors wherever possible while maintaining proper treatment and regulatory compliance.
We believe education and transparency are important. Anyone who would like to better understand how wastewater is received and treated at our facility is welcome to schedule a plant tour. Seeing the treatment process firsthand can provide a much better understanding of what happens to wastewater from the time it arrives until treatment is completed.
To make an appointment to tour the plant, please call 334-756-7150.
We appreciate the community's patience and understanding as we continue making improvements to the East Alabama WWTP. Our goal is to be a good neighbor while continuing to provide safe, responsible, and effective wastewater treatment for our community.
East Alabama Water, Sewer & Fire Protection District
Committed to protecting our community and our environment
