Ivey announces grant after millions of gallons of sewage leaked into county water source

Gov. Kay Ivey announced a $425,000 grant Friday to repair Blountsville’s failing sewer system after sinkholes beneath a wastewater lagoon caused millions of gallons of untreated sewage to leak into the town’s primary water source.

The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will stabilize soil beneath the 18-acre lagoon where sinkholes have formed twice, contaminating the aquifer that supplies water to both Blountsville and the Blount County Water Authority, according to a news release from Ivey’s office.