Residents in the predominately African American Black Belt region of Alabama allege the state agency tasked with distributing funds to fix faulty septic systems has been slow to repair tanks and sewage lines.
The failing septic tank buried behind Mautree Burke's home causes sewage to rise to the surface of her backyard.After years of dealing with unsanitary wastewater conditions in and outside of their homes, some residents in the predominately African American Black Belt region of Alabama allege the state agency tasked with distributing funds to fix faulty septic systems has been slow to repair tanks and sewage lines.
"This complaint is incorrect and misleading," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's office told ABC News through a statement. "I suggest checking out the facts: https://alabamawaterprojects.com/".The director of the ADEM, Lance LeFleur, denies any racial bias in the allocation of funds. According to LeFleur, Alabama is expected to receive up to $1 billion for failing infrastructure in Alabama, partly throughbut the state would need about $3 billion to fix all of their infrastructure issues, according to LeFleur.
Mautree Burke, 26, who said she lives on land in rural White Hall, Alabama, that was once used as a campsite for, said she hasn't seen any of that aid and is struggling to keep raw sewage from spewing over that same land.
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