FROM STAFF REPORTS

Over the past few years, the Alabaster Water Board has been working to make significant improvements and reinvestments in the water system to enhance the quality of water service provided and to incorporate new technology.

“With the board’s leadership and vision, we are continually reinvesting in the water system to ensure that we have the staffing, equipment and facilities to provide excellent service to our customers in our growing community,” said Laura Koon, the board’s manager. “The Board has adopted a multi-year capital improvement plan that serves as a road map for needed system improvements.”

In the past 36 months, the Water Board has reinvested more than $3 million in the water system. The investments included replacing the Hickory Hills booster pump station, reconditioning and painting three of the system’s 11 water tanks, installing enhanced water quality monitoring equipment at key locations in the water system, replacing remote monitoring equipment and implementing a meter replacement program to replace aging manually read water meters with radio read meters.

“The Board is utilizing new technology to remotely monitor and control facilities, to obtain critical water system operation information more timely and to more efficiently operate the water system,” Koon said.

The board currently is in the process of replacing water mains along Thompson Road, and is preparing to fully rehabilitate the Shelby County 264 booster pump station within the next year. The board will also be upgrading the current billing system and website within the next year.

“The Board is forward focused and committed to providing the Alabaster community with a plentiful and high quality water supply,” said Water Board Chairman Rick Walters. “Our associates do an exemplary job making sure that we have a safe and reliable water supply that is readily available for our community.”

The Water Board is made up of community leaders appointed by the Alabaster City Council. In addition to Walters, the members are Bobby Harris, Mike Allen, Sophie Martin and Gary Wright. The Board meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. and in monthly work sessions as needed.