The eastern end of Limestone County will get sewer service before long, and they will be getting it from family.

Limestone County Water and Sewer Authority will soon take over sewer treatment at Limestone Correctional Facility in Capshaw.

“This will allow them to extend sewer around that eastern end of the county,” said Limestone County Commission Chairman David Seibert. “We were able to secure that facility by virtue of low bid to provide that service for the prison.

“Naturally, the sewer system is something greatly needed for that area due to large growth, but it allows us to maintain our integrity, if you will,” Seibert said.

About a year ago it became evident that the prison’s sewer-treatment plant needed a lot of major repairs, he said. Huntsville had asked to provide sewer service to the prison, but that meant annexing the facility into Huntsville.

“Obviously, I don’t want Huntsville to annex this piece of property,” Seibert said. “I don’t want them to annex anything in Limestone County if I can get by without it.”

As for sewer service, Seibert said, “It’s a big thing for Limestone County. We feel like we had a stake in the prison by it being in Limestone County. We had gotten a lot of the expense of the prison. It was just the natural thing to do for the county to provide sewer to the prison.”

State Sen. Tom Butler was pleased with the development.

“This is, to me, a win-win situation…” Butler said. “It was very important for Limestone County to get this project for a number of different reasons.”

From a public-health standpoint, Butler said, East Limestone is growing fast and the septic tanks they use could pollute groundwater.

A sewer system would allow more growth in eastern Limestone County, protect the water table and continue economic development, Butler said.

One of the biggest issues facing the area is the upcoming migration of military families to the area due to the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), he said, which will trigger a need for water, sewer, schools and roads. This new plan for sewer is one step forward, he said.

Rep. Tommy Carter, D-Elkmont, has also been working to secure this sewer project.

“This is going to be great for Limestone County,” he said.

Water Authority General Manager Tony Sneed said most of the easements have been acquired and the project should be completed in 18 months. Work will begin in October.

Sneed said rates will always go up, but because this area is densely populated it will be easier to control rates. Basically because there will be more people to share the cost.

Sneed foresees that in 15 years septic tanks will not be allowed on new developments.

“There are problems inherent to any rural area where people are on septic tanks,” he said.

Sneed said the Limestone Creek sewer line itself is a $10-to $11-million project paid for with proceeds from the sale of bonds.