DOJ intervenes in Alabama sewage crisis disproportionately affecting Black residents.

The US Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services have found that Alabama health officials failed to address sewage system failures that disproportionately affected Black residents in Lowndes County. As part of an interim resolution agreement, the state and county agencies have agreed to take actions such as suspending enforcement of sanitation laws that could result in criminal charges, fines, jail time, and potential property loss for residents who lack the means to purchase functioning septic systems. The agreement also mandates that the agencies consistently engage with community residents, local government officials, environmental experts and advocates, and develop a public health awareness campaign to ensure residents receive critical health and safety information related to raw sewage exposure.