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gollygee

(22,336 posts)
Fri Jun 1, 2018, 09:45 AM Jun 2018

A County Where the Sewer Is Your Lawn

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/22/opinion/alabama-poverty-sewers.html

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — In Alabama’s Black Belt, along the road from Selma to Montgomery where civil rights activists fought for voting rights, there’s a glaring problem that’s all too often overlooked — a lack of working sewer systems.

The Alabama Department of Public Health estimates 40 to 90 percent of homes have either inadequate or no septic system. And half of the septic systems that have been installed aren’t working properly.

Many homes here rely on straight PVC pipes that carry waste from houses to open pits and trenches that often overflow during heavy rains, bringing sewage into people’s yards where children play.

The situation isn’t much better in towns connected to relatively functioning sewer systems. Heavy rains and floodings, which seem to be intensifying because of climate change, overwhelm weak sewer systems, forcing sewage to back up in people’s homes, and contaminating drinking water.

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A County Where the Sewer Is Your Lawn (Original Post) gollygee Jun 2018 OP
Said it before and I'll say it again TimeSnowDemos Jun 2018 #1
This hasn't changed since the mid-60s, when I followed that road MineralMan Jun 2018 #2
Sewage is a major problem all around the country. NCTraveler Jun 2018 #3

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
2. This hasn't changed since the mid-60s, when I followed that road
Fri Jun 1, 2018, 09:52 AM
Jun 2018

on my way to hear Dr. King give his "How Long?" speech in Montgomery after the Selma march. That it hasn't changed demonstrates how poor the progress of civil rights has been in that misbegotten state. It's downright shameful!

 

NCTraveler

(30,481 posts)
3. Sewage is a major problem all around the country.
Fri Jun 1, 2018, 09:54 AM
Jun 2018

Septic tanks are causing serious problems.

With respect to city or county sewage the systems are often well past their use date, serve more people than they were designed for, and huge problems often go unrecognized for years.

Just south of Key Marathon is is a nightmare of a problem. On Little Torch there is a court battle going on and people are not maintaining their septic tanks while waiting for the outcome. All through the canals sewage is emptied as toilets are flushed and showers are taken. You can sit there and watch the sewage surface in the canals.

So many areas across the country, poor and wealthy, have serious sewage issues. Normally in the more wealthy areas the problem is dealt with like in the Keys. Most is taken out with the tide or settles at the bottom. It's less of a direct and immediate health issue. That's not to say it isn't generating environmental disasters along with serious health concerns. In more poor areas the problem is often a more immediate and direct health emergency.

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