Grants to aid with water projects

By Staff
Nathan Strickland
HODGES – Red Bay and Hodges officials were relieved when they found out the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and Gov. Bob Riley awarded them grants to help residents conserve energy costs.
A $225,000 grant will enable the town of Red Bay to make improvements to its wastewater system.
Red Bay Mayor Bobby Forsythe said the grant money would play a large role in upgrading the system.
The Red Bay project involves installation of aerators at the town’s wastewater treatment lagoon and replacement of inefficient pumps at 17 lift stations. The aerators help maintain proper oxygen levels in the system; without sufficient levels of oxygen, bacteria cannot biodegrade waste efficiently.
This will help reduce energy consumption and bringing the town into compliance with Alabama Department of Environmental Management regulations.
Forsythe estimates the upgrades will save more than $28,000 annually and contribute to the employment of more than 50 people. Local matching funds of $135,600 have been committed for the project.
The town of Hodges will receive a $215,410 grant to upgrade equipment within their water system, which serves residents in Franklin and Marion counties. The improvements will increase efficiency and reduce water loss
Hodges will replace 25 year-old, inefficient pumps in its water system with new pumps and related equipment.
Hodges Mayor Ed Crouch said he was surprised when his town was awarded the grant.
Crouch said he hopes to get started on the project as soon as possible.
The project also includes the installation of a telemetry system to control the daily operation of the pump station and allow for better monitoring to prevent water loss due to overflowing tanks. According to town officials, annual savings from the project will be more than $16,000 and the project will contribute to the employment of more than 35 people.
ADECA is administering the grants from funds made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
The grants are part of $9.6 million awarded by Riley as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. The program helps local governments and nonprofit organizations improve energy efficiency of facilities and vehicles, reduce fossil fuel emissions and create or retain jobs.