UNIONTOWN — The issues surrounding Uniontown’s wastewater treatment system may be nearing a resolution following a meeting in May, which was attended by key stakeholders in the project.

In an email to her constituents, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, spoke about a meeting at the offices of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. In the meeting various state and local officials discussed Uniontown’s longstanding wastewater problems.

“The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the current wastewater treatment plant and pray field with all parties involved in the infrastructure and repair of the system,” Sewell said in the email. “I am committed to working with the local, city and state officials to come to a reasonable solution that is in the best interest of the community.”

In recent interviews with the Times-Journal, engineers and city leaders said little money remained of the $4.4 million dollar in grant money for the project.

As the money has dried up, numerous issues — including leaking pipes, instances of wastewater seeping in to nearby creeks, and two wastewater spray fields that cannot handle the current water usage levels — remain, leaving those in charge to search for alternatives.

One alternative plan discussed would involve pumping wastewater, treated at a treatment lagoon, to a nearby river instead of to the spray fields. This plan involves  using the spray fields in emergency situations if problems emerged in the pipelines or pumps.

ADEM director Lance LeFleur, United States Department of Agriculture deputy director Allen Bowen, Uniontown Mayor Jamaal Hunter, Uniontown Councilwoman Vera Brown and representatives from Sentell Engineering Inc., and Engineers of the South, joined Sewell at the May 16 meeting.

Uniontown resident Ben Eaton, who is also a member of the Blackbelt Citizens of Uniontown Fighting for Health and Justice, said he is skeptical of plans that would use the spray fields if other systems failed.

“They are talking about these alternative plans, and I just want to be sure they never use those spray fields,” Eaton said. “Even in emergency situations. I will never change my opinion on that.”

Hunter said discussions during the meeting were constructive and focused on the steps now necessary to resolve current shortfalls in the system.

“A lot of information still has to be gathered before we decide on our final plan,” Hunter said.

He said a final decision on the future of the project would be agreed upon after public hearings in Uniontown and additional meetings.