NEW MARKET, Ala. (WHNT) — Cheers filled Buckhorn High School Tuesday night, but it wasn’t for a sporting event; it was residents of Nouveau Marché who expressed their concerns about a proposed wastewater treatment facility.
“It’s not just going to affect these people and their neighborhood; it’s going to affect everyone downstream,” said one concerned resident.
According to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, Integra Water has applied to renew a permit to construct a wastewater treatment facility on Winchester Road. Nearly 45 residents signed up to voice their concerns to ADEM, and Buckhorn’s cafeteria was standing room only.
After being booed, Integra CEO John McDonald said the company wanted to tackle growth in the new market.
“Our goal is simple: to meet the growing needs of the New Market and Madison County community with a facility that is safe, environmentally responsible and whose impact is virtually invisible,” McDonald said.
Although residents agree the structures need to be improved due to population growth, they disagree with the proposed location for the facility. Some said their yard was just 400 feet from the proposed location. They say the facility’s proximity to the Flint River is even more concerning.
The permit application states that Integra Water plans to discharge liquid waste into the Flint River.
“River flows are significantly lower than we think are estimated,” said concerned resident Cameron Craig. “And so they assume you can throw more trash into the river than you actually can.”
Some pointed to Integra Water’s existing wastewater treatment facility in Meridianville, saying Brier Fork’s test samples exceeded ADEM’s E. coli limits, even bringing one sample to the hearing.
“This is a sample I took yesterday. It was disgusting. It smelled bad. But we wanted to bring you an example,” the resident said. “The Flint is a beautiful, clear river enjoyed by thousands of people each year.”
As mentioned, residents say the Flint River provides the terrain for several recreational activities enjoyed by the community, from kayaking to fishing to annual baptisms celebrated by local churches. They believe pollution from the facility would ruin those operations, leading one resident to plead with Integra’s CEO to explore other options.
“For the Integra owner, there are other types of facilities you can build without surface water discharge,” said a New Market resident. “It’s not our only option, and it appears to be the cheapest, basement, cheapest option, and it will impact our entire community.”
ADEM said it would respond to all comments and concerns expressed during Tuesday’s hearing. The department does not have a timeline for when residents can hear an update on the status of the facility.
