Newbern community celebrates completed phase of wastewater treatment system

The Newbern community is celebrating after Phase 1 of a new wastewater treatment system was recently completed. 

The Newbern Community Fish Fry & Ribbon Cutting was held on Tuesday, June 4 where more than 150 people were in attendance, according to Rural Studio, which is serving as a demonstration site for the project. 

Attendants included researchers from universities and nonprofits, namely University of Alabama, University of South Alabama (USA), University of North Carolina, Arizona State University, Columbia University, Black Belt Community Foundation, and Consortium for Alabama Rural Water and Wastewater.

"Called a 'cluster' system, this treatment unit will initially connect clusters of 50 or so homes within a five-mile radius of the Studio," said a blog post by Rural Studio. "The homes will share one water treatment unit, which is specially designed for the Black Belt soil. It uses two-inch pipes (instead of larger sewer pipes found in septic systems), so it can withstand the challenges of the clay soil."

The blog adds that the cost of maintaining septic systems averages $10,000 to as much as $30,000, making it difficult for low-income residents in the Black Belt to pay for. The Black Belt's soil also causes backups for septic systems. 

“We know that for a community project to be successful, especially one being presented to the community from an outside group, you really need to let people see it and understand it," said Emily McGlohn, who is spearheading the project. "So, phase one will just serve us. It’ll be open to the public, and it will let our local community, our local government, individuals and anybody else to come understand the system."

Rural Studio is working to use funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the USDA, and Columbia World Projects to try and get the rate of access for sanitary water systems from 50% to 75%. 

“It’s truly a public health crisis that the Black Belt counties find themselves in," said McGlohn. "And there are so few solutions. That’s why we’re here to help.”