Sheffield Utilities has been fined $32,000 because of a series of untreated wastewater and sewage overflows that took place between march 2006 and September 2007. The overflows varied from 50 930,000 gallons and the durations lasted from 10 minutes to as long as nine hours, according to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. Sheffield Utilities General manager Allen Hughes said that the city's sewer system's age is showing, as is the case with many sewer systems throughout the state. The majority of the 25 instances involved manholes that overflowed during periods of heavy rains and the infiltration of rainwater into the sewer system, which overwhelmed the treatment facility. In addition to the fine, Sheffield Utilities has agreed to prepare and submit to ADEM an engineering report that identifies the likely causes of the discharges and a timetable for repairs to the city's sewer system.