Killen explores sewer line to Florence

Killen officials are trying to find out more about an option that may allow them to expand the town's wastewater capabilities and avoid a controversial proposed sewage treatment facility in the Bluewater Creek area of Lauderdale County.

At a cost of about $2 million, Killen could link its sewer lines with nearby Florence by building a pumping station near the East Pointe area and laying pipe to move sewage from the town to Florence's treatment plant.

The proposal would avoid more costly plans that have been discussed and have included laying pipe from Killen to the closest wastewater treatment plant in Florence at Veterans Park.

Killen has been studying the possibility of having a new sewage treatment plant built, which would meet the needs of the town and all of east Lauderdale County. Sites that have been considered for the project have created controversy among many residents.

Despite the controversy, Killen officials say they are keeping the Bluewater Creek option open because the sewage connection to Florence would not be a long-term solution to potential growth. Officials say the connection to Florence would solve the town's problem for no more than 25 years.

The latest option being considered was developed during several meetings between officials from both municipalities, engineers and representatives from state and business organizations.

Killen Mayor Jerry Mitchell has said growth and the potential to attract retail and residential developments have precipitated the need for increased sewage capacity.

"When you look at our immediate needs, Florence is a good solution if we can satisfy the different needs of the two towns because Florence doesn't have good service to the east, either," Mitchell said. "But Florence comes from an established arrangement that includes an old sewage collection system as well as equipment, rates and procedures. We wouldn't have (those issues) by putting in a new system."

Florence's wastewater plant near Veterans Park was built in the 1970s through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency that stemmed from studies that included Killen and St. Florian. The grant included language mandating that Florence allow Killen and St. Florian to hook into the system.

"We can't deny (Killen) connecting to (our system)," said Mike Doyle, wastewater manager in Florence. "But we don't have to bear the cost. Other communities can connect to us; we just can't bear that expense."

Florence residents would not see an increase in their sewer rates as a result of the added sewage that would be treated by the city, Doyle said. He said the system was built around the needs of the textile industries that were booming in the area at the time. Those industries have left the area, however.

As a result, "we have more than enough capacity for our system," he said.

Florence's system has a capacity of treating 30 million gallons of sewage per day and is using a third of that. Killen's contribution would be a maximum of a half-million gallons per day, or less than 2 percent of the system's capacity.

In addition to footing the bill for construction costs, Killen also would reimburse Florence to process the sewage.

Mitchell said he's pursuing possible grant money from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The money, however, would obligate residents to hook up to the new system, even if they have viable septic systems, he said.

Mitchell added that financing through a private company would mean Killen could control rates and give residents the option to hook on.

One problem with the latest option being discussed is that the pipe Killen lays to connect to Florence would serve the growth needs for a maximum of 25 years, Mitchell said.

"This is a good solution, but, 50 years out, do you put in another pipe?" Mitchell said. "The answer to that is that Florence can't say where their capacity will be 20 to 25 years from now."

For that reason, he said, the proposed site at Bluewater Creek for a new treatment plant remains an option.

Residents in Killen and the surrounding area have hotly contested the proposed site. They argue that a treatment plant there would have a harmful environmental impact. If approved, the new treatment plant would be constructed and financed by Alabama Utility Services, a private company based in Pell City.

The company has already sought a permit from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. The agency would have to approve the site for the facility.

Chris Matthews, Alabama Utility Services owner, said there is no timeline for construction at this point because the permit process has yet to be completed, and there will also be time allotted for potential customers to sign up for the service.

"Typically, however, for a facility this size it would take about 12 months to construct," he said.

Should Killen take the option to connect to Florence, construction would take between 12 and 18 months to complete, officials said.

ADEM spokesman Scott Hughes said his office has received a large number of comments, both technical and general, from residents in the area who are concerned about the Bluewater facility. As a result, the public comment period has been extended until 5 p.m. March 26, one day after a public hearing at Brooks High School.

"When we get to this point, the department has already made a preliminary decision that this facility can comply with our regulations," Hughes said. "But that doesn't discount or discredit the hearing because we do receive additional comments that will require further research and could result in the possibility of additional information from the applicant."