Cullman freezes residential water and sewer rates; starts digester rehabilitation amid temporary odors
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
The Cullman City Council approved a one‑year pause on residential water and sewer rate increases and discussed multiple utility projects, including a long‑term 30‑inch water line replacement and a wastewater digester rehabilitation that officials said may cause odors during work.
The Cullman City Council voted to hold residential water and sewer rates steady for a fourth consecutive year as part of the FY2026 budget approved Sept. 29.
Council Member David Moss, who presented the utilities report, said the council is waiving an expected 3% inflation adjustment for residential customers: “For the fourth year in a row, there will be no increase for residential water and sewer customers in the city of Cullman.”
Moss outlined several multi‑year and state‑funded projects: replacement of an aging 30‑inch water supply line, a state revolving fund (SRF)‑backed sewer improvements project, and upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant. He told the council one major item under way is a digester rehabilitation project at the plant; crews began cleaning two large digester tanks on Sept. 15 under a contract with a 90‑day timeline and an internal hope to finish in 60 days.
Moss warned neighbors that the cleaning work has produced occasional odors and asked for patience while contractors use chemicals and other measures to minimize the impact. “For the next 60 days, I just ask everybody be patient,” he said, adding the work should improve efficiency and help address lingering odor issues when complete.
Moss also listed equipment and operational investments planned for the utilities departments, including new service and crew trucks, GPS systems, and digester rehabilitation work intended to improve plant performance.
The council adopted the FY2026 budget and the resolution that holds rates steady for residential customers; council discussion did not record any motion to increase residential water and sewer rates.