Montgomery Climate

Montgomery, Alabama faces several industrial pollution and environmental concerns, stemming from historical and ongoing activities. Below is an overview of key issues:

Groundwater Contamination

1. Capitol City Plume:

• Located in downtown Montgomery, this site involves groundwater contamination caused by chemicals commonly used in dry cleaning, commercial printing, and machine parts cleaning (e.g., perchloroethylene [PCE], trichloroethylene [TCE], and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene [DCE]).
• Cleanup efforts include soil removal, groundwater monitoring, and planting poplar trees to absorb contaminants. Groundwater use in the area is prohibited by city ordinance.

1. T.H. Agriculture & Nutrition Co. Site:

• This Superfund site has contaminated groundwater, sediment, and soil due to industrial operations. Cleanup measures include monitoring groundwater and implementing institutional controls.

Air Pollution

Industrial facilities contribute to air pollution through emissions of particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other pollutants:

• Urban Pollution: Montgomery’s urban forest mitigates air pollution by removing 58.6 million pounds of pollutants annually.
• Coal Ash Pollution: While not directly in Montgomery, coal ash ponds at nearby power plants pose risks to regional water quality due to arsenic and heavy metal contamination.

Water Pollution

Stormwater runoff from urban areas carries pollutants into local waterways:

• Removal of tree canopy exacerbates stormwater pollution, increasing contaminants like nitrogen and phosphorus in the Alabama River.

Superfund Sites

Montgomery hosts multiple Superfund sites:

• Capitol City Plume: Focused on groundwater contamination downtown.
• Other nearby sites (e.g., Anniston PCB Site) contribute regional pollution through persistent chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Environmental Mitigation Efforts

• The city has implemented land-use controls and ordinances to restrict groundwater use in contaminated areas.
• Urban forestry initiatives aim to reduce air and water pollution while complying with federal clean air and water standards.

Montgomery’s industrial pollution challenges primarily involve legacy contamination from manufacturing and urban activities. Ongoing cleanup efforts aim to mitigate these impacts while improving environmental health across the region.