Alabama Power Drilling Leaves Vandiver Residents Without Water
Residents of Vandiver, a quiet community in Shelby County, are grappling with an unexpected water crisis after underground drilling for a fiber cable project disrupted their wells.
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The project, carried out by R.E.M. Directional on behalf of Alabama Power, reportedly punctured an aquifer, causing several wells to dry up. Currently, at least eight wells across five homes have been affected, leaving families worried about their access to water.
“They don’t know if it can be fixed, and that’s the scariest part,” said Tommy Fish, a resident dealing with the fallout.
Initially, Fish and two others filed a lawsuit, leading to a temporary halt in drilling. However, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Kennedy has since ordered the project to continue 24/7 to speed up its completion. Alabama Power must now provide daily updates, with another hearing scheduled for February 18.
Alabama Power spokesperson Alyson Tucker emphasized the importance of the project, calling it “vital to enhancing reliability and service.” The company states that it is actively communicating with affected residents and offering assistance where needed.
Still, concerns are growing as more wells could be at risk. “If the water table keeps dropping, more families will be impacted,” Fish warned.
For now, Vandiver residents are left hoping for a swift solution before their community faces an even bigger crisis.
