Sand Mountain Reporter

Biological Warfare and Weapons of Mass Destruction are both familiar terms to Americans.

How many Marshall Countians realize a “biological war” is going on in Albertville?

This war has armies and weapons of mass destruction, each side determined to win its battles led by determined leaders.

So what is the nature of this war?

Many, citizens living in or passing through Albertville on U.S. Highway 431 near East McKinney Avenue over the years have encountered traces of the ongoing conflict with their noses, a noxious odor in the air being the main clue that something is happening.

In a securely fenced 38-acre tract known as the Municipal Utilities Board’s Wastewater Treatment Facility, an ongoing struggle between forces bent on “fouling” the air we breathe, and those dedicated to eliminating them, have been locked in battle.

The enemy is the millions of gallons of wastewater created by the community each day that is processed at the McKinney Avenue facility.

The “loyal forces” are 11 highly-trained members of MUB’s treatment facility. They have 103 years of combined experience.

They are lead by MUB’s General Manager Larry Harvey.

Addressing the “odor” problem, Charles Rogers, speaking with the backing of Harvey and Director of Operations Elden Chumley, said, “We are doing everything possible to solve this odor problem and be good neighbors to the community.”

Harvey said, “MUB has recently enlisted the services of Dr. Clifford R. Lang, associate professor in Auburn’s Department of Civil Engineering.”

Lang has studied and written extensively on the issues of wastewater treatment and associated subjects. Among them are sources and control of odors from wastewater treatment plants.

Lang is also providing analytical assistance to the Novozymes Biologicals, Inc. of Salem, Va.

Harvey added, “Novozymes has been consulting with MUB to determine the chemical causes of the odors.”

Chumley said, “It shows our level of commitment to excellence. And we want to continue to fight this problem [odor], and we felt we needed to get some outside help with it.”

Novozymes’ Project Manager John Christiansen estimated in a recent letter to MUB that “a plan for controlling the odors with several response strategies should be ready by the end of the first quarter.”

The forces in this “war” are billions of tiny bacterial foot soldiers.

Rogers, who has studied and worked in the field of waste and water treatment for 40 years, described the process.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

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