$500,000 grant to allow Russellville Water and Sewer Board to complete wastewater capacity increase project
A grant announced this week by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey’s office will provide half a million dollars to the Russellville Water and Sewer Board (RWSB) for the final improvements needed to restore its daily wastewater capacity back to full strength of 11 million gallons a day.
That was the previous capacity in the holding pond at the Russellville Sewer Treatment Plant before an Alabama Department of Environmental Management order three years ago prohibited use of the pond until significant improvements were made to it.
With that limited capacity came the ability to treat only 3.5 million gallons of water a day, a concern in the event the board’s customer base saw growth from industry expansion and/or subdivision and new home construction.
The RWSB will match the $500,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission with $791,000 of its own funds to complete the two-phase project, the first of which was done last year with a separate $350,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant and $600,000 of RWSB matching funds.
The first grant paid for aeration and baffle curtains that allowed RWSB to put its holding pond back online. Baffle curtains allow treatment plants to improve efficiency by forcing the wastewater to take a longer path, increasing retention time.
Russellville Water and Sewer Board General Manager Eric Hill said the final phase will involve installation of new head works screens and a new grit removal system at a total cost of $1,291,000.
The grant will assist the RWSB in increasing its sewage capacity an additional 7.5 million gallons a day, back to previous capacity. This will return the treatment plant to a capacity well above state-permitted wastewater levels.
“Both grants go hand-in-hand and provided the wastewater plant capacity needed for industrial and residential growth,” Hill said.
Ivey said the grant will not only meet the needs of RWSB’s current customer base but also for the future.
“The upgrade and expansion of the Russellville sewer treatment plant will ensure the growing needs of businesses and residents are met, as well as being a benefit for future economic development,” Ivey said. “I commend the Russellville Water and Sewer Board for taking this step to serve its customers, and I am pleased to announce this grant to help complete the project.”
Hill said the RWSB received assistance with the grant application from the Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments’ Morgan Tittle, Sherye Price with the Franklin County Development Authority and letters of support for the project from Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), officials with G&G Steel, Southeastern Commercial Fabricators, LLC, Russellville City Schools, and several individuals in the community. Hill also expressed appreciation to his board for supporting the grant application and the capacity expansion project.
The plant services 2,552 residential customers and 616 commercial customers, according to the governor’s press release.
“I would like to thank and congratulate Eric Hill, General Manager of the Russellville Water and Sewer Board and the board members for applying for and being awarded the grant,” said Russellville Mayor David Grissom. “And special thanks to Governor Ivey and ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell for helping the city secure the ARC funds.”
Hill hopes to let the final phase out to bid by year end, he said.