Hoover residents say stormwater runoff is polluting backyards

HOOVER, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Residents of a lakeside neighborhood in Hoover say stormwater runoff from construction development in the city is bringing pollution to their backyards.

According to longtime locals, Lake Paradise once covered nearly 30 acres. Over the past two decades, trash and sediment flowing downstream have reduced the lake’s size.

Iris Claros moved into her home on Paradise Lake with her husband and children two years ago. She was excited to raise her family on the lake, but the runoff makes it impossible to enjoy her own backyard.

“It’s not safe for my kids to be close to the water because I don’t know what germs might be in there,” Claros said.

In its 2040 master plan, the city of Hoover refers to Paradise Lake as a catch basin — which helps maintain the water quality of area waterways.

“So pretty much what happens is when the sewer systems around the city overflow, they come into the other lakes they overflow,” Claros said. “Then when the other lakes overflow, they come into our lakes which then goes into the Cahaba.”

The lake is privately owned and maintained by a homeowner’s association. HOA president Gene Wallace says trash has always flowed through the lake but certain changes have become more apparent in recent years.

“Five years ago, these trees weren’t there,” Wallace remarked. “Ten years before that, the trees above that weren’t there.”

The Hoover Monitor is a nonprofit dedicated to finding solutions to issues caused by stormwater runoffs. Co-founder Matthew Winther says the responsibility lies primarily with the city of Hoover, who should these issues.

“Hoover needs to take its responsibility seriously under the MS4 Permit, so that stops polluted water from entering these water bodies,” Winther said. “They need to clean up these water bodies. They — more than anyone else — are responsible for making sure this water is clean.”

CBS 42 asked the city of Hoover for clarification on its master plan but no calls were returned by this article’s publication. In addition to Paradise Lake being privately owned, officials state it lies outside of Hoover city limits.

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