But not a drop to drink.
So much water in the news. I don’t have to say anything about the drought. (Yeah, right) We all know it is the worst in recorded history, Birmingham Water Works customers are under restrictions for water use, Bessemer Utilities water customers are not under restrictions, and this includes some people in Shelby County, and Ross Bridge and other communities that were smart enough to contract with Bessemer to supply their water. But there are a few more water stories.
Of interest to people whose yards are turning brown and landscapes are dying, Bessemer Water has offered to sell water to Birmingham to help in times of drought, like now, but Birmingham has refused to buy it. You can lead a horse to water…
There is a drought on the space station. Russian computers that control oxygen and water have failed. Supposedly the crew, including Americans, are in no danger and they have “plenty of time to sort this out,” says Mike Suffredini, NASA manager of the Space Station program. U. S. astronauts can shower on Mondays and Thursdays, and Russian cosmonauts can shower on Tuesdays and Fridays, under the new water use plan. Just kidding.
Birmingham’s water supply will reach its limit by 2025, according to an article in the Birmingham News. Seems like it may be more like June 25, but at least the BWWB is searching for new sources to tap. They will spend 2 years and 2.4 million dollars to find ways to expand the system. Can you spell r-a-t-e h-i-k-e? Birmingham Water
And in Bessemer, the city is buying out its water contract by voting (the city council) to approve a buyout plan of about $2 million for the General Utilities Service Corporation to finalize a deal with Covanta (or as the Western Star reported this week, Cavanta?) to control the water.
Mayor Ed May wanted the city to purchase the contract, not just approve the deal for the independent GUSC to control it. May said allowing the city to control it would have benefited the city (and ratepayers), but GUSC board member W. W. Ledbetter says having control of the water will let profits go back to the water department to help pay for upgrades and equipment.
That may be a good idea. Remember last summer, when major water mains around Bessemer broke and we were without any water for days? Seems that pipes were outdated and such, so maybe the water department needs the extra cash for upgrades.
Bessemer Water
The Year of Moving Forward
At our 4 person wedding reception in DC
4 comments:
My opinion may not count for much as a great citizen of Bessemer. I do remember going without water last year and just recently last month due a water main breaking in Lipscomb. I do think we need the upgrade, but i am number one to say:
LETS TAKE THE MONEY AND BUY NEW ATTITUDES FOR THE WORKER AT BESSEMER UTILITIES PLUS UPGRADED CUSTOMER SERVICE CLASSES-THAT WOULD SPECIALIZE IN INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC-
my opinion which is little as a grain of salt would not even make a difference. i am sure we have other very important things that should be addressed in addition to abandoned homes, trash every where, and let's not forget the over growth of weeds everywhere
You are wrong about your opinion. sure it counts, I just wish more people would voice theirs because I am sure a lot of people agree with you. Bessemer should and can be a cleaner and safer community. The citizens should demand it. Be heard.
I've been following our own drought here in Athens, GA, for several years. And it's bad - 75% of rainfall last year 2006, and less now than 50% for the first half of 2007.
But I've noticed that the north-central area around Birmingham (and really, the entire southeast) has it worse than we do.
And all this is atop a deficit rainfall that really started in 1998 with three La Ninas in a row.
Coming home or going to work, I see corporate AND governmental properties watering their well-manicured lawns on timers, regardless of need, with half the waterflow splashing out into the road. It's mind-boggling.
It makes me a lot happier to have dug up what passed for a lawn four years ago and allowed it to convert into a managed wildflower refuge, for surely that is what it is going to become anyway. Thank goodness I don't have to worry about golf cart guys riding around measuring the height of my lawn, the degree of its greenness, and citing me if doesn't measure up to specs.
I've lived in Bessemer for over 15 years and have never seen so much B.S. My water bill and sewer bill are outrageous and no one seems to know why. It doubled in the last few years...no leaks, same usage and no real answers. And the customer service...let's not even go there. I don't know if anyone else is having this problem but I am getting out of Bessemer as soon as I get a chance. This is ridiculous!
Post a Comment