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Alabama State Rep. Andy Whitt joined officials with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 and the Town of Ardmore to announce more than $22 million in funding to upgrade Ardmore’s overburdened sewer system.
Ardmore sits on the Alabama/Tennessee border, and the Ardmore Water Works and Sewer Board serves residents on both sides of the state line – Ardmore, Ala., and Ardmore, Tenn. The project, which includes replacing the wastewater treatment plant, is receiving funding from both Alabama and Tennessee.
Leaders from the various state, federal and local agencies took part in a check ceremony today at the Water Works and Sewer Board headquarters in Ardmore. The Water and Sewer Board presented plaques to representatives of the agencies to show its appreciation for the assistance.
“The Ardmore wastewater system has been grappling with severe issues for years, and for the past two years I have led the charge in correcting this dangerous health situation,” said Rep. Whitt, R-Madison. “The system’s deteriorating sewer lines, particularly in the downtown area, have caused significant problems, including sewer overflows, and placed an enormous strain on the town’s sewage treatment plant. These issues pose ongoing health and environmental risks to our community.”
The bulk of the funding, $19.99 million, to upgrade the sewer system and alleviate problems was awarded by ADEM from the state’s share of American Rescue Plan Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars. It includes $18.679 million for construction and $1.27 million for planning and development.
“Thanks to federal funding and appropriations by Gov. Kay Ivey and the Legislature, Alabama is making an unprecedented investment in repairing and improving our state drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, with $1.278 billion committed in just the past two years,” ADEM Director Lance LeFleur said. “We are allocating this funding based on need, and Ardmore and its representatives have clearly demonstrated a need that we are pleased to assist them in meeting.”
For their part, Tennessee officials contributed a total of $2,521,254 to the project. That includes $2,269,129 in ARPA grant funding from TDEC and $252,125 from the City of Ardmore, Tenn. TDEC presented its check to the town last year. The funding was used to address inflow and infiltration problems.
Billy W. Shannon, mayor of Ardmore, Ala., and chairman of the Ardmore Water Works and Sewer Board, acknowledged the need for the sewer upgrades and praised the multiple officials and agencies involved.
“The addition of our new wastewater treatment facility will greatly help us meet the needs of our residents in Ardmore,” Shannon said. “Without the help from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, the Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, the Alabama Legislature, Representative Andy Whitt and Senator Tim Melson, this project would never have been possible.”
Rep. Whitt said the funding will help to completely overhaul the system.
“A critical area of concern is the system’s inability to properly manage wastewater due to the undersized system, faulty pipes and the shear amount of water that is being received at the plant,” he said. “This is leading to untreated sewage spills and has created a crisis for the town.
“This funding represents the largest infrastructure investment in Ardmore’s history and is a part of broader federal and state initiatives aimed at modernizing essential services across Alabama and addressing critical infrastructure needs, particularly in communities with limited financial resources. This effort also highlights Ardmore’s collaborative approach in tackling this important issue.”
