Water, water, everywhere … and now in west Lauderdale County

MONTGOMERY — Turning on the tap to fill a glass with water is a given.

Unless you’re one of the thousands of residents in west Lauderdale County who have been dealing with inadequate water service – especially during power outages.

Now, thanks to a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the West Lauderdale Water and Fire Protection Authority will be able to provide emergency backup power to pump stations, helping to prevent a disruption of public-water service for residences and businesses.

“We expect water to flow when we turn on a faucet, but that has not always been the case for people in west Lauderdale County,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in announcing the $224,000 grant. “This project will help end that uncertainty by providing reliable service to more than 5,000 households, 120 businesses and two schools in an area that stretches from Florence west to the Tennessee state line.”

ARC funds will be used to install diesel generators at booster pump stations. The generators will activate during power outages to eliminate or reduce down times in the system.

In the past, power outages have prevented or reduced water flow to customers and have sometimes lasted up to a week, according to local officials.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the ARC award. The ARC is a federal-state partnership program.

“These upgrades will greatly improve the services provided by the West Lauderdale Water and Fire Protection Authority,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in commending the water authority for this project that will benefit so many residents and businesses in west Lauderdale County.”

Ivey notified Deborah Miles, chair of the West Lauderdale Water and Fire Protection Authority, that the grant had been approved.

ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. Its mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.

Lauderdale County is one of 37 Alabama counties as part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.