UTILITIES

Water & Sewer

The six counties are located within four drainage basins - the Black Warrior, Coosa, Cahaba, and Alabama rivers - that provide an average stream flow of 6,980 MGD.  Of the 52 to 57 inches of annual rainfall, 5 inches contribute to groundwater recharge and over half become surface runoff entering streams and rivers.  Alabama Power Company is a major controlling force over the region's water resources.  It controls the water on the Black Warrior River with a hydropower dam on the Sipsey Fork.  It also owns four major reservoirs on the Coosa River.

The Cahaba River originates in western St. Clair County and extends through the region to Dallas County.  The river, along with the reservoir, Lake Purdy, provides raw water to the Shades Mountain filter plant.

There are over 70 water systems in the six-county region ranging from 32 systems using groundwater to 6 systems using surface water.  These systems have a total water treatment capacity of 305 MGD; the Birmingham Water Works Board is the largest area provider with a treatment capacity of 188 MGD (62 percent).

There are numerous public and private sewer collection and treatment systems.  Jefferson County has over 2,600 miles of sewer lines and 140 pumping stations.  There is an increasing demand in the five remaining counties for expanded sewage collection and treatment systems to accommodate growth and system maintenance requirements.

*Note:  Water and sewer data is from the 2004 Malcolm Pirnie Regional Water Resource Assessment and may not represent the most recent data.

Electricity & Gas

Electric power is provided throughout the region predominantly by Alabama Power Company.  Other providers include the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative.  Natural gas can be provided in firm or interruptible service in large quantities.  Alabama Gas Corporation is the region's largest natural gas distribution company and supplies to most of the region.  However, there are also many municipal and private gas distribution systems serving communities throughout the region.

Broadband

Connecting Alabama is an effort to make broadband (high-speed internet) available to all areas of the state, and to increase the use of broadband technology to enhance education, healthcare, public safety, agriculture, tourism, and more.