Reviewed by: Cindy Hatcher
3 easy ways you can help keep Birmingham’s water clean
Reading time: 4 minutes
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Good news, Jefferson County residents: Our water is getting cleaner. According to the Jefferson County Environmental Services Department, sewer overflows, which can pollute our water and harm the environment, have dropped 99% compared to 25 years ago. This is a major achievement!
Read on for details on how these improvements happened and how you can keep this progress going.
Jefferson County invests $273M in sewer improvement projects
If you’re like me, you don’t think much about water except that you expect it to be clean and to run when needed.But a lot of work goes into making this possible.
Over the past decade, Jefferson County’s Environmental Services Department has been hard at work reducing sewer overflows to keep our water clean and our neighborhoods healthy by investing in smarter infrastructure and targeting Birmingham’s most problematic areas.
Currently, the Department is investing $273 million into projects that improve:
- Sewer capacity
- Pump stations
- Odor control
Anyone else thankful about that last one?
1. Reconsider what goes down the drain in Birmingham
Overflow happens when untreated sewage escapes the system due to clogs or heavy rain overwhelming the pipes.
This can pose risks to public health and the environment, especially if overflows reach our local streams, rivers and other waterways.
One easy way you can do this is to only flush toilet paper.
“Wipes, including those labeled flushable, don’t break down like toilet paper. This causes it to build up quickly in the sewer system and cause blockages.”
David Denard, Director of Environmental Services, Jefferson County
2. Keep grease out of Jefferson County’s drains
The county works hard to advocate for grease recycling to keep sanitary sewers free and not clogged up. According to Jefferson County, FOG (Fats, Oil, Grease) causes about 75% of all sewage blockages and costs the County hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in repairs. That’s money that could be used for making further improvements.
When warm, grease acts as a liquid, making it easy to pour down the drain. But as it cools, it solidifies, causing it to stick to pipes and lead to major blockages. No thank you!
“Home prevention is the first line of defense in avoiding overflow. Instead of pouring grease down the sink, let it cool, then recycle it at one of Jefferson County’s FOG recycling centers.”
David Denard, Director of Environmental Services, Jefferson County
To keep grease out of your pipes, follow these three easy steps.
- Head to one of Jefferson County’s FOG recycling locations—they are open 24 hours a day—to grab a free plastic gallon jug with a sealable lid for your grease.
- Let your oil cool when you’re done cooking, then pour the used grease into the container until three-fourths full.
- Drop off your container at the recycling center + grab another container and start the process over.
You can learn more about recycling your household grease in Jefferson County here.
3. Spread awareness to others in Jefferson County
Awareness is one of the most powerful tools we have to protect our local water sources. The more people know, and the better they understand how their everyday choices impact our environment, the more likely they are to make decisions that benefit the whole community.
Many Jefferson County residents don’t realize that common household items, like wipes and cooking grease, can cause serious issues when improperly disposed of. The good news is that now you know, and can help spread this knowledge.
Let’s work together to keep Jefferson County’s water clean and our infrastructure strong. If you see an overflow in your area, call our local sewer overflow hotline at 205-942-0681 to report it.
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