News Summary
Birmingham Water Works officials have swiftly addressed several water leaks in Mountain Brook, following urgent resident reports. The primary leak, located on 21st Avenue South, was repaired alongside two additional leaks by Thursday night. Despite these repairs, the utility grapples with significant water loss due to outdated infrastructure and aims to invest in a $130 million pipe replacement plan over the next five years while exploring advanced metering technology to improve billing accuracy.
Birmingham Water Works officials have successfully repaired multiple water leaks in Mountain Brook following urgent reports from residents. The initial water main break occurred on 21st Avenue South, situated between 23rd Street South and Cahaba Road, and was addressed on Thursday, July 10, around 11:45 a.m. While on site for the first leak, the Central Alabama Water Crew discovered two additional leaks, both of which were also repaired by Thursday night, ensuring a swift resolution to water issues in the area.
Residents experiencing air in their plumbing or encountering brown water are advised to run cold water through their faucets for five minutes to help flush their pipes. For any further questions or concerns, Central Alabama Water can be contacted at 205-244-4000.
Despite the recent fixes, Birmingham Water Works faces ongoing challenges with water loss. A staggering 48.5% of the water produced is classified as ‘non-revenue water’. This significant leakage is primarily attributed to ruptured and outdated water pipes, highlighting a pressing need for infrastructure improvements. Currently, around 500 miles of aging pipes require replacement, estimated to cost approximately $750 million.
Efforts to lower the non-revenue water rate could yield substantial financial benefits for Birmingham Water Works. Reducing this rate to around 20% could save the utility up to $4.3 million annually, although this sum falls short of addressing the much larger replacement costs. To combat these ongoing issues, the Birmingham Water Works Board has set a strategic plan to allocate $130 million for pipe replacement over the next five years.
In addition to aging pipes, other factors contributing to unaccounted water include leaking storage tanks and water that is used but not accurately billed. In 2011, Birmingham Water Works experienced a sharp increase in water loss, with figures climbing from 12.6% in late 2009 to 22% by the end of 2010. A water loss reduction initiative launched in 2007 managed to decrease losses significantly, from 28% to 17% within just seven months.
Birmingham Water Works is also exploring a $120 million investment in automated water meters aimed at improving billing accuracy and leak detection. This new system, known as the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), seeks to enhance the overall customer experience by delivering nearly 100% accurate billing. The management of Birmingham Water Works is evaluating several implementation strategies for the AMI project and intends to present their recommendations to the board soon.
Recently, a water main break near Regions Field disrupted local traffic, resulting in street closures as water flowed across the streets. Moreover, the Birmingham Water Works Board’s governance has come under scrutiny, as a newly formed regional board which includes members from surrounding communities is currently being contested in court by the Birmingham mayor and city council.
As Birmingham Water Works continues to address its infrastructural challenges, maintenance and strategic investments remain crucial to ensuring reliable water service for its customers.
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Additional Resources
- WBRC: Repairs Complete After Water Main Break
- Wikipedia: Birmingham Water Works
- AL.com: Leaking Pipes Blamed for Water Loss
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Water Supply
- WVTM: Birmingham Water Main Break
- Google Search: Birmingham Water Works
- Alabama News Center: Birmingham Water Works Considers Automated Meters
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
