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City, state, and federal officials gathered recently to mark the groundbreaking for a new wastewater treatment plant in Owens Cross Roads, an essential project set to replace the city’s aging and undersized facility. Funded through a grant and loan from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), totaling over $10 million, the new plant will address the current needs of Owens Cross Roads’ 2,631 residents and prepare for growth in this burgeoning suburb south of Huntsville.
ADEM Director Lance LeFleur highlighted the significance of the project, noting, “Sewer and drinking water systems throughout Alabama are having to deal with decades-old infrastructure needs because of aging treatment plants, pumping stations, water tanks, and sewer and water lines.” LeFleur credited recent funding sources for enabling critical projects like this. “With the help and vision of Gov. Kay Ivey and the Legislature, we have been able to approve more than $1.1 billion over the past two years in ARPA, BIL, and SRF funding to assist those systems with the most dire needs. But with nearly $3.5 billion in needs that we have identified, we still have a long way to go.”
The funds for Owens Cross Roads’ new plant include a $7.3 million grant from Alabama’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $3 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Both were allocated by the Alabama Legislature in 2022 and 2023, to address infrastructure issues across the state. Joining the event were local leaders, including state Rep. Ritchie Whorton, state Sen. Wes Kitchens, Madison County Commissioner Craig Hill, representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4, and a representative from U.S. Rep. Dale Strong’s district office.
Owens Cross Roads Mayor Tony Craig spoke on the need for the new plant, pointing out the city’s long-standing challenges. “For the past decade, the city of Owens Cross Roads has faced significant challenges with our wastewater system,” Craig explained. “Despite implementing various projects to reduce infiltration and inflow in the collection system and upgrading the existing plant, we have been unable to meet the increasing demands of our growing community.”
The city’s 40-year-old sewer system is currently overwhelmed by stormwater inflow and lacks the capacity to handle wastewater from the community’s residents and businesses. Around 60 percent of Owens Cross Roads’ sewage has been routed to Huntsville’s system since 2019 as a temporary measure, but Mayor Craig stated that Huntsville could not continue to support this arrangement indefinitely due to its own growth.
“As our population has expanded rapidly, the limitations of our wastewater treatment capacity have become increasingly apparent,” he said. “To address this issue, we made the difficult decision to send a portion of our wastewater to a neighboring community for treatment in 2019. However, this temporary solution is no longer sustainable, as our partner is unable to continue supporting our wastewater load.”
State Rep. Whorton, representing Owens Cross Roads, emphasized the plant’s importance, saying, “The new wastewater treatment plant is a vital investment in Owens Cross Roads’ infrastructure. It will not only address immediate capacity challenges but also provide the necessary foundation for sustainable growth and future development. I am grateful for the collaboration and funding that made this project possible, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on our community.”
The new treatment facility, located adjacent to the existing plant on Sneed Avenue, promises to modernize wastewater management for Owens Cross Roads, allowing the city to meet current needs and paving the way for future development in the region.
