Vandiver Residents Struggle as Drilling Project Drains Water Supply

SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Residents in the mountainous community of Vandiver, located just east of Birmingham, are grappling with a critical water crisis after a fiber optic cable drilling project inadvertently struck the aquifer that supplies their wells. The drilling, authorized by Alabama Power and conducted by R.E.M. Directional, has led to a significant loss of water, forcing several families to rely on temporary water tanks and bottled water.

The troubles began approximately three weeks ago when residents, including Tommy Fish, noticed dwindling water levels in their wells. After conducting personal investigations, Fish and fellow residents discovered that a blowout had occurred at the drilling site, with water gushing uncontrollably from the aquifer.

“They’re not sure it can be fixed, and that’s what scares us all,” Fish, one of the three plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit, said. Despite the residents’ efforts to halt the drilling temporarily, Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Kennedy ordered the drilling to continue on a full-time basis in order to expedite project completion.

According to Alabama Power spokesperson Alyson Tucker, the fiber installation is essential for enhancing service reliability. “We have been actively communicating with the impacted residents and providing assistance as needed,” Tucker stated in an email. Yet, the community is haunted by uncertainty regarding the long-term effects on their water supply.

As of now, at least eight wells serving five homes have run completely dry, while others, including Fish’s, are nearing depletion. The residents are concerned that continued drilling could further exacerbate the situation, impacting even more households.

“As the water table continues to lower, it will affect more people,” Fish warned. “It’s growing.” The urgency of the matter was evident when the affected families filed a complaint against R.E.M., but the judge allowed Alabama Power to move forward with drilling.

Bruce Romeo, the attorney representing the residents, expressed skepticism about the long-term viability of the aquifer after the drilling is completed. “We’ll have to see first if they can fix this; I’m a little skeptical… We’re very much in the infancy of this,” he said, pointing to the unknown potential for aquifer contamination and depletion.

Temporary relief measures have been facilitated by Alabama Power and R.E.M., including the provision of bottled water and temporary tanks. However, Fish cautioned against viewing these supports as long-term solutions. “The uncertainty of losing our water, and the future of our homes, is terrifying,” he remarked. “We’ve worked hard for them. Are we going to have water tanks forever?”

The situation escalated as families searched for a sustainable resolution ahead of the next court hearing scheduled for February 18. “This is about more than just water; it’s about the stability of our homes,” Fish stated.

The disruption of local water supplies has raised alarms within the community, with residents fearing the environmental and structural implications should the water crisis persist. “It will affect everyone from Shoal Creek all the way to Leeds,” Fish added, echoing the widespread concern over protecting their valuable natural resources.

The residents hope the upcoming legal proceedings will bring clarity and solutions to their plight, as uncertainty remains a major source of anxiety.