Leaks Identified As Water Conservation Order Remains In Place

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Progress appears to have been made addressing a series of water line infrastructure issues brought on this weekend by Tropical Storm Claudette, but the work is far from over.

What's more, the emergency water conservation order signed by Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox on Sunday remains in place as work moves forward.

Maddox said via social media Monday morning that tanks continue to be full south of the Black Warrior River and pressure is normal at the Ed Love Water Treatment Plant's booster pumping station.

He went on to say Dominion has been contracted to repair the broken 24-inch raw water line and sewer line near the pumping station, as the company is working Monday to establish an access road and create a bypass line for the sewer overflow. Repairs could take up to two weeks, the city pointed out, depending on weather and access.

In terms of the cost for repairs, Maddox said it would likely be in a the range of $1 million to $2 million.

Late Sunday night, Maddox said in a Facebook video that the city's theory about problems at the Ed Love Water Treatment Plant proved correct, as a raw water line failure was located close to the pumping station, which city officials believed caused the problem. The mayor said the leak has be valved off and the city is in the process of rerouting some raw water.

Also read: South Tuscaloosa Urged To Conserve Water Until Leak Repaired

Maddox called this a "temporary fix" and said work would continue through the week to fix
In another unrelated issue, city officials discovered a slope failure near the Bryant Bridge that occurred over a water line.

He then said while the line was bowed as a result of the slide, the line maintained its integrity and held, with crews immediately beginning work to address the landslide.

He also mentioned the quick work of citizens in helping identify the source of another line break that resulted in the Crescent Ridge Road water tank being completely depleted.

Maddox said the public helped identify the 8-inch water line failure as water was spotted coming out at Kicker Road. City crews valved off the broken line and within minutes the tank began to refill.

"We’re not out of the woods yet," Maddox pointed out. "So we’re going to keep that conservation order in if you’re south of the city."

Rural water authorities impacted by emergency water conservation order

• Englewood-Hulls Water System
• Mitchell Water System
• Citizens Water Service
• Coaling Water Authority
• Fosters-Ralph Water Authority
• Peterson Water System
• Coaling Water Authority

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