BROWNSBORO, Ala. (WAFF) – Some business owners along the Flint River have concerns about their future due to a proposed wastewater treatment plant in New Market.
A proposed wastewater treatment plant has business owners and residents alike concerned about what may happen to their beloved Flint River.
“We love this river; it is used daily,” said Jason Pauls, the owner of TGL Adventures, a business that does camping, kayaking, and tubing.
According to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management website, Integra Water has applied to renew a permit to build a wastewater treatment plant on Winchester Road, just south of County Lake Road.
The application shows the proposed plant would dump liquid waste into the river.
When WAFF’s Kalee Kniess asked Integra Water about it last week, officials said ADEM would closely monitor this to ensure the river stays clean.
Pauls isn’t so sure.
He owns TGL Adventures and says this plant would undoubtedly devastate the river.
“It would wipe out our business. Who would want to kayak or swim in a river that has millions of gallons of treated feces poured into it a day,” said Pauls.
Pauls, like many others in the area, did not find out about this until it was almost too late. Pauls said he found out one day before ADEM stopped taking comments from citizens.
“I’m sending emails just voicing my concern. I am sure that there are thousands of others doing the same thing. It’s kind of gotten a lot of traction online, and it’s spreading real quick, and people were just blown away. Nobody wants this on our river,” said Pauls.
Integra Waters reassured WAFF that all water is highly treated, disinfected, and subject to strict state and federal environmental standards.
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