Gardendale Plant Stormwater Outfall, Mount Olive, Alabama

Gardendale Plant is a stormwater outfall located at 1121 Brookside Coalburg Road in Mount Olive, Jefferson County, Alabama. It operates under the regulatory oversight of the US Clean Water Act, likely as part of a Phase II Small MS4 program given the community size. The facility manages urban stormwater runoff from the surrounding area, helping to control flooding and reduce pollutant loads entering local waterways. As a stormwater outfall, the facility's primary function is to discharge collected runoff into receiving waters. The NAICS code 327320 indicates a connection to ready-mix concrete manufacturing, suggesting the outfall may serve an industrial catchment area. Typical stormwater outfalls in Alabama are designed to handle peak flows from rainfall events, with discharge rates varying based on catchment size and impervious surface coverage. The facility plays a key role in protecting water quality in Jefferson County, particularly by managing runoff from industrial and urban areas. Its operational status ensures compliance with NPDES permit requirements, including monitoring for pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, and heavy metals. Proper stormwater management at this outfall helps maintain the ecological health of downstream water bodies.

The facility discharges into a watershed that may be impacted by urban and industrial runoff from the Birmingham metropolitan area. Stormwater outfalls in this region often face challenges from sediment loading, concrete-related pH changes, and heavy metals. The local climate, with frequent thunderstorms, generates high-volume runoff events that require effective management to prevent erosion and flooding.