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FROM STAFF REPORTS

ALABASTER – For the health and safety of residents, the Alabaster Water Board issued a boil water notice at 10:30 p.m. on Monday, March 7 for a portion of the Alabaster Water Board water system that has experienced inadequate water pressure.

“The low pressure was caused when a booster pump station failed to begin pumping water to the area affected,” read an updated press release from Alabaster Water on Tuesday, March 8. “This was the result of a communication error between the booster pump station and the water system monitoring software caused by a software update. This communication issue was quickly resolved at approximately 9:30 p.m. and the booster pump station was placed into service.”

Water system pressure was partially restored by about 10:30 p.m. March 7 and fully restored by about 2 a.m. March 8.

The areas affected by the low water pressure include the following:

• Areas along County Road 17 from County Road 26 south to County Road 22;
• Areas west of State Road 119 south of County Road 12 to County Road 22;
• Areas north of County Road 26 to County Road 44 between County Road 17 and State Road 119;
• Areas south of County Road 26 to County Road 12 between County Road 17 and State Road 119.

Thompson High School is the only school in the Alabaster City School system affected. ACS said they are taking precautions to keep their students safe.

Some of those precautions include:

• Bottled water will be made available for students and staff in multiple areas throughout Tuesday, March 8, and Wednesday, March 9. The areas where bottled water will be made available include hallways, special areas, and certain areas on campus including, but not limited to the Cafeteria, Gyms/Arena, Indoor Athletic Facility, etc.
• All water fountains are shut off at the valve and taped off to prevent anyone from consuming the water.
• All ice machines will be shut off, emptied/drained, taped off, and prohibited from use.
• All water being used for meal preparations in CNP (breakfast and lunch) will be boiled before use.
• No sink water should be consumed from the tap (without boiling).
• Washing hands at the sinks (in bathrooms, workrooms, break rooms, etc.) continues to be a safe and acceptable practice.

Announcements will be made periodically throughout the day to remind everyone about the Boil Water Notice and the precautions being taken as a result of the notice. Updates will be provided via social media and email.

The boil water notice will remain in effect until satisfactory bacteriologic sample results are obtained. Water samples were delivered to the state testing lab on the morning of March 8, and results are expected by midday on Wednesday, March 9.

Residents may continue to use water for bathing, clothes washing, hand washing with soap and other non-consumable activities.

To help ensure water is safe to consume and use, follow these important steps:

• Bring tap water to a rolling boil.
• Boil for one minute.
• Cool before using.

Until given further notice, Alabaster residents in the affected area should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation.

“When low water pressure occurs, this increases the chance of contamination in the water system caused by harmful microbes entering the water system and causing a health hazard,” the release read. “Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. This also poses a special health risk for infants, some elderly and people with severely compromised immune systems.”

If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, please seek medical advice.

Residents who have questions should contact Alabaster Water at 205-663-6155.