House committee gives favorable report to SB 330 to restructure Birmingham Water Works Board

A state House committee voted to give SB 330 a favorable report after a public hearing in which residents, county officials and Birmingham Water Works leaders traded sharply different accounts of the utility’s performance and the bill’s likely effects.

Supporters of SB 330 told the committee the bill would replace the existing board with a smaller, professionally focused board intended to correct long-standing operational and financial problems. Opponents argued the measure removes local control, could disrupt ongoing capital projects and leaves some counties underrepresented.

Senator Jabo Wagner, one of several legislators who spoke in favor of the measure, said the bill addresses problems that have recurred over a decade and asked the committee for a favorable report. “Here we are again, and here I am again asking you to give this bill a favorable report,” Wagner said.

Senator Roberts, also speaking for the bill, told committee members the system has serious losses and deferred maintenance. “We currently do not bill for 50% of the water that is pumped,” he said, adding that the system’s pipe replacement schedule is far longer than industry best practice and that a smaller board with technical and financial expertise…