MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a total of $1 million in grant funds to the town of Lockhart in Covington County to repair its wastewater treatment facility, which was damaged by fire in April.
The urgent need Community Development Block Grant will provide funds to for the town to construct a new concrete building for the facility and install new wastewater treatment equipment. Town officials said the fire on April 23, 2026, destroyed the facility’s equipment, control systems and power supply.
“These repairs are essential to protect public health and provide a vital public service in Lockhart and to safeguard water quality in the Yellow River Watershed,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to support this project to provide reliable and uninterrupted wastewater treatment services for residents.”
Lockhart is currently leasing equipment that keeps the town’s wastewater treatment operational. The wastewater treatment plant was originally constructed in 1979 and underwent significant upgrades in 2007. The cause of the April fire is suspected to be electrical, town officials said.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Emergency situations like this one allow us to work with municipalities to provide much-needed funds,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in support of this critical project.”
Gov. Ivey notified Lockhart Mayor Eugene Birge that the grant had been approved. The city will contribute $322,000 to the project.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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