(Foley, AL.) - On Saturday, August 23, 2025, the Utilities Board of the City of Foley experienced a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) due to equipment failure caused by lightning and power surges at a lift station located on the Foley Beach Express in Foley, Alabama. These surges caused the pump controller fuses to fail and not allow the pumps to operate. This failure, in combination with an evening thunderstorm that resulted in 1.89" of rain falling in 30 minutes, resulted in the gravity sewer collection system becoming hydraulically overloaded. Responding crews connected a diesel-driven pump to end the SSO event until the pump controller could be repaired. Crews will return to the area this week to perform additional smoke testing and evaluate the collection system.
This SSO event allowed stormwater and untreated wastewater to overflow the sanitary sewer manhole. Responding crews investigated the area and promptly cleaned and disinfected where required.
1. Volume at Incident Site: 7,400 gallons
2. Distance from Incident Site to Nearest Creek: Approximately 700 linear feet
3. Final Destination: A portion of the flow from the manhole made its way to Wolf Creek.
A copy of the data submitted to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for this event is attached for reference.
The Utilities Board of the City of Foley responds to overflows in a manner consistent with state and federal standards. We urge residents to exercise caution when using these associated bodies of water for recreational purposes, thoroughly cook any fish or seafood caught in these areas, and thoroughly wash their hands after handling any fish or seafood from these areas.
If you have questions regarding these SSOs, please call us at (251) 943-5001.
