July 20, 2021

MAWSS reports on Sanitary Sewer Overflows

MOBILE, Ala. — Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS) responded to multiple Sanitary Sewer Overflows in the Mobile area on July 19. Wastewater overflows occur when heavy rainfall infiltrates the sewer lines.

Ongoing rainfall caused the overflows to be intermittent. All overflows have stopped at this time.

Below are the documented locations, accumulated totals and receiving waters:

Location                                            Estimated Gallons                             Receiving Water

Dr. Bernard H. Eichold II, Health Officer for Mobile County, advises area residents to take precautions when encountering any standing water that may have accumulated because of these overflows. Those who have come into direct contact with untreated sewage are advised to wash their hands and clothing thoroughly.

Area residents should take precautions when using Eslava Creek and Three Mile Creek for recreational purposes because of these overflows. All seafood harvested in this general area should be thoroughly cooked before eating. People should wash hands after cleaning seafood and before preparing food.

In order to reduce the impact of heavy rains infiltrating our sewer lines, which limits the sewer system’s capacity to move wastewater flows to our treatment plants, MAWSS diverts wastewater to our large temporary storage facilities. The diversion of flows reduces wastewater volumes in the collection system and aids in maintaining conveyance capacity in the system.

Below are Severe Weather Attenuation Tanks (SWAT) and volumes of wastewater diverted to each:

Three Mile SWAT — 3,285,223 gallons,

Eslava SWAT — 3,853,359 gallons,

Halls Mill SWAT – Was not used.