Sewage In The Tuscaloosa/Northport Water Supply?

This is so upsetting as an avid water drinker.

Get our free mobile app

It's practically the only beverage I drink every day.

I wrote a story about this a few months ago.

How could this happen in the United States of America?

We're not a third-world country!

According to a report from CBS 42, the Hurricane Creek Keeper is issuing a warning to those living in the area of Hargrove Road.

John Wathen, Hurricane Creek Keeper according to CBS 42, said it's "out of an abundance of caution that he warns people to avoid contact with the water for a couple of days".

He also claims that he has notified the City of Tuscaloosa.

As I mentioned above, I wrote a story detailing the earlier reports of sewage overflow running into the Black Warrior River.

Here is some detailed information on the initial sewage issue in Tuscaloosa.

A community is only as safe as it's essential resources like the water supply.

Why is this such a problem in West Alabama?

This seems like something we would guarantee is safe for our families in Tuscaloosa and Northport, as well as our other cities in the region.

I recently read a story on 15 Gross Thinks Lurking In Our Water on eatthis.com.

Arsenic is one of them. It might occur naturally but it still can kill you in larger doses.

Salmonella is another one that has been found in drinking water.

How about Rocket Fuel?

Yes, that has also been found in drinking water in the USA.

Let's take a look at the water quality in Tuscaloosa and Northport for our main course.

I could only find the 2023 water report for Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Have you ever seen the program "Monsters Inside Me"?

You can catch episodes on Netflix at the moment. The show examines cases of individuals who have unwillingly ingested awful things.

Some of them die. Most of the time they figure out the cause and the cure.

I have watched episodes with a focus on an individual who drinks tap water (or takes a shower) and ends up fighting for their life.

In the Tuscaloosa report, they mention "Coliform Bacteria" being detected.

Yes, it is at a very low level.

However, this is an organism present in the feces of all warm-blooded animals.

I don't want any of it in my local water!

Are you ok with feces in your drink if it's just a small amount?

That's what I thought.

My other favorite "detected contaminant" in our water is "nitrate No3".

This is defined in the Tuscaloosa water quality report as Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks, sewage; 

Well, there's nothing better with my chicken wings than a beverage with fertilizer runoff, leaching from septic tanks/sewage.

Again, does it matter if it's only a little sewage in your ice water?

I don't think most of us check into what is actually in our water.

That's why I'm trying to shed some light on the topic.

Here's the Northport water report.

Most of it is a duplicate of the Tuscaloosa water report.

Except for a section on Cryptosporidium.

This is a really interesting item. What is Cryptosporidium?

It's a microscopic parasite.

Suddenly, I'm not thirsty.