One year anniversary marked for Lowndes County wastewater agreement

It has been one year since an interim agreement was reached between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) to alleviate the sewage issues of Lowndes County. 

On May 3 in 2023 the ADPH signed an interim agreement to create an Environmental Health Assessment for Lowndes County residents to determine how they were affected by the sewage problems. 

The agreement came after a lawsuit was filed against the ADPH that said that they had discriminated against residents. 

"ADPH is using information collected from the Environmental Health Assessment, which was developed in conjunction with DOJ, HHS, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to prioritize installation or repair of septic systems at residences most-at-risk of exposure to raw sewage," said a press release from the ADPH.

"The Assessment asks questions concerning failing septic systems or straight pipes, location of raw sewage on the property, how often raw sewage backs up into the home, and the age and medical conditions of household members that might place them at higher risk of becoming sick from exposure to sewage. All information provided is confidential and cannot be used against residents for any claim of a sanitation law violation."

The assessment can be seen here. 

"Based on the ranking system ADPH developed with DOJ, HHS, and the CDC, ADPH has analyzed and prioritized the first round of septic system installations," said the press release. "ADPH will share the results of the ranking system with the selected program administrator after analysis of each batch of Assessments are completed."

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"The selected program administrator is then responsible for contacting soil professionals to conduct a soil test at the residence. Test results are used to design a septic system specific for the lot conditions. The selected program administrator will then hire a licensed septic system installer to use this design to install a system."

The press release added that the ADPH will not seek liens on properties related to the installation, repair, or maintenance of systems under the Lowndes County Septic System Improvement Program and that any contractor or subcontractor under the program cannot place liens.

Additionally, ADPH is conducting community outreach to take questions and concerns, which can be done at www.alabamapublichealth.gov/onsite/sewage.html. 

Community outreach meetings are being conducted through Lowndes County community liaison Ursula Crittenden, who can be reached at LCCL@adph.state.al.us or 334-548-2564. 

ADPH drafted a Public Health Infrastructure Improvement Plan (PHIIP) under the interim agreement in which the steps to address sewage issues was outlined and can be seen here. 

Comments on the PHIIP can be provided until June 1 before the DOJ and HHS approves a final draft.