Bayou La Batre Wastewater Outfall Complete
Posted on: Jul 23rd, 2025 | Press ReleasesFeatured News

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. – The Mobile County Commission announces that the Bayou La Batre Wastewater Outfall line project construction, which began in September 2024, was completed in July 2025. This critical infrastructure upgrade, funded by the RESTORE Act, will significantly improve water quality for residents in Bayou La Batre.
"I am thrilled to see this part of the project completed. The environmental testing and planning for this project started more than 10 years ago when I was the Director of the Marine Resources Division," said Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship. "By extending the outfall line farther offshore, we’re improving water quality, supporting marine life, and reducing risk for the oyster aquaculture industry."
An outfall line is a critical component of a wastewater system that safely transports treated wastewater to its discharge point. This initiative, administered by the Mobile County Commission on behalf of the Utilities Board of the City of Bayou La Batre, involved constructing a new wastewater outfall line to move the discharge location an additional four miles offshore. The improved mixing of freshwater from the outfall line with saltwater in the Mississippi Sound will strengthen oyster habitats.
"The successful completion of the Bayou La Batre Wastewater Outfall line means cleaner water, healthier seafood, and a boost to the quality of life for everyone who lives in the Bayou," said District 3 Mobile County Commissioner Randall Dueitt. "This upgrade reinforces the Commission's commitment to environmental stewardship and improving local quality of life.”
The outfall line project supports ongoing efforts to restore and protect water resources in the region, a priority for the Bayou La Batre community, which was heavily impacted by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
"It may have been a long time coming, but good things are worth waiting for,” said Bayou La Batre Mayor Henry Barnes. “This project is a big deal for Bayou La Batre. We’d like to thank Mobile County for helping to make it happen."
The project was sponsored by the RESTORE Council in cooperation with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It was paid for with federal funding from the RESTORE Council under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act). The total contract cost for the Outfall Extension Project was approximately $16 million, with funding secured through the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council.
Images of outfall line construction in progress: