Residents in Southern Memphis are about to kick off their first major project focused on safeguarding the drinking water that lies beneath them.
The sand aquifers under Memphis extend across eight states within the Mississippi River basin and are crucial for providing clean water to much of the Southern Central region, including Memphis itself. Essentially, a layer of sand serves as a natural filter, while a top layer of clay helps keep pollutants at bay.
But problems arise—some violations of that clay layer are allowing contaminants to seep into the aquifer. And, with increasing demands for water from drinking, agriculture, industry, and power generation, the pressure on these resources is really starting to mount.
The Alcibor neighborhood, positioned near Elvis Presley Boulevard and Interstate 240, has been identified as one such area in jeopardy.
The local community, along with organizations like the Alcy Ball Development Corporation and Protect Our Aquifer, plans to partner with the Memphis-Shelby County Sustainability and Resilience Office and the Tennessee Department of Environmental Protection to create a community-driven groundwater protection plan over the next two years.
Funding for this initiative includes a $150,000 grant aimed at urban sustainability projects and another $75,000 from the Hyde Family Foundation.
This project aims to empower residents—referred to as “citizen scientists”—to actively participate in environmental testing, design green infrastructure, and formulate groundwater conservation strategies.
“Memphis relies entirely on groundwater. Yet, communities like Alcibor often find themselves outside of discussions on how to protect it. Issues like pollution and environmental vulnerabilities often overlap. This project seeks to change that narrative,” a spokesperson noted.
Nearby, the Memphis Defense Depot, a former military warehouse turned toxic waste site, illustrates the area’s environmental concerns. It was flagged as a superfund site in 1992 due to health issues related to the pollution affecting predominantly Black neighborhoods. The EPA has been addressing this site since 1998.
Residents have expressed significant distrust toward the agencies involved in the site cleanup and worries about local safety, including concerns about playgrounds and parks.
The project proposes a resident-led review of potential threats to the aquifer, aided by experts. Community meetings will allow residents to share insights and feedback on collected data and proposals. They’ll also collaborate with scientists to transform this data into actionable conservation strategies and informed land use.
Plus, the community will have a hand in selecting a site for the “Green Infrastructure Demonstration Project,” which is to be designed by residents with expert assistance.
“Alcibor won’t just be a passive recipient of this initiative. We intend to take the lead on it,” stated Seth Harkins, executive director of Alcy Ball Development Company.
This project hopes to serve as a blueprint for community-led groundwater conservation efforts throughout Shelby County.
