News

Dadeville Water and Sewer - Taste and Odor Issues in Potable Water, 6/26/2024

As you may have heard in the news media, several water utilities across Alabama are currently experiencing a temporary issue with taste and odor. This is caused by geosmin, a naturally occurring substance found in rivers and lakes when temperatures and rainfall cause a change in the population of microbes in the raw water. At very low concentrations, humans can detect its presence, usually by an earthy smell or taste. Conventional water treatment processes are not very effective at removing geosmin when it occurs.

These taste and odor problems are not harmful, though they can make the water unpleasant to drink. With luck these conditions will be short-lived, and your water will return to normal in the coming days. In the meantime, some people have found that chilling the water or adding a few drops of lemon juice can reduce the taste.

Water systems conduct tests of its water daily, and results from certified drinking water laboratories are regularly uploaded to my Department for review. Should conditions change and a water safety issue becomes apparent, the water system would be required to notify the public in accordance with EPA requirements.

We apologize for the water quality issues that you and many Alabama residents are currently experiencing; please rest assured that your water provider and the Alabama Department of Environmental Management are doing all we can to ensure your water is safe to drink.

EPA Proposes to Deny Alabama’s Unsafe Coal Ash Program

Last Thursday, EPA proposed denying Alabama’s unsafe coal-ash program for issuing permits, like the ones at Plant Gorgas, Plant Miller and Plant Greene County, because the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) has failed to meet federal safety standards.

On September 20, EPA will hold an in-person public hearing in Montgomery about the proposed denial. If the proposal becomes final, Alabama will continue to have the protections of the federal coal combustion residuals (CCR) Rule, and ADEM will have no authority to block those protections. 

Across the Southeast, states like Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina have required utilities to clean up coal ash contamination, with over 250 million tons of hazardous coal ash being excavated from unlined pits near waterways. These materials are either recycled or disposed of in modern, lined landfills away from rivers. Even Alabama Power’s sister company, Georgia Power, has recycled or properly disposed of over 65 million tons of ash. 

With enough public support, we can convince EPA to finalize this proposal and ensure that Alabamians get the same protections as other people in the Southeast. If EPA’s proposal is finalized, community groups and EPA will continue to have the authority to enforce the CCR Rule for coal ash impoundments along our water at places like Plant Gorgas, Plant Miller and Plant Greene County. Alabama Power will be accountable for its coal ash pollution. 

Please register to demand protections for clean water and healthy communities:

In-Person Public Hearing
September 20, 2023
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CDT)
Montgomery, Alabama

Sign Up for the In-Person Public Hearing on 9/20

Alternatively, you can register for the  virtual public hearing on September 27