Wastewater initiative shows big savings

Alexander City Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager Shelby Richardson poses in front of the aeration basin at Sugar Creek Wastewater Treatment plant Friday. Through several tests and new procedures, the plant was able to find cost savings by cutting electricity use without impacting the quality of their treated water. (Mitch Sneed / The Outlook)

In a time when stories of waste in governmental spending are common, Alexander City has a refreshing success story where employees led an initiative that will save the city as mush as $94,000 a year.

Early last year, Alexander City’s Wastewater Services Department under the direction of Superintendent Shelby Richardson voluntarily launched an Energy Management Initiative for Alabama Water and Wastewater Utilities.