City staff: Everest and Riverchase plants met permit requirements despite 11 reported overflows

City staff presented the 2025 municipal water pollution prevention annual reports for the Everest and Riverchase wastewater treatment plants and told the Hoover City Council both facilities met permit requirements during the reporting period.

"Throughout the report period, both facilities consistently met our regulatory requirements, producing high quality effluent while maintaining reliable operations," Mr. Welch said during the work session. He reported average daily flows listed in the transcript as about 0.885 million gallons per day at one plant and 1.191 million gallons per day at the other, and plant design capacities of about 1.2 MGD and 3.0 MGD respectively.

Staff disclosed the reports recorded a total of 11 sanitary sewer overflows during the year, described in the transcript as eight in Riverchase and three elsewhere. Mr. Welch attributed most overflows to blockages in the gravity main from grease, roots and rags and said staff responded to each event in accordance with the ADEM permit.

The reports also summarize sludge handling, routine testing and disposal, and equipment replacements completed during the year. Equipment replacement dollar figures in the transcript were garbled; staff said replacements were made at both plants and that additional sludge testing would be submitted to ADEM as required to reauthorize landfill disposal.

Councilors asked whether the reports were prepared in‑house or by a contractor; Mr. Welch said they were prepared by staff and reviewed by Clearwater Solutions. Council members also pressed staff on whether capital needs would require drawing on other funds; staff said current management and surplus helped complete many projects but the department will highlight sewer capital needs during the next budget cycle.

The reports will be submitted in accordance with the city’s ADM permit filing deadlines and staff said no shortfalls were reported for the period reviewed.