Alabama Facing a Water Crisis
Nearly the entire state of Alabama is under the grip of a severe drought and Alabama is facing a water crisis. To date there’s no statewide mandate regarding water usage. However, some public water systems, including the Birmingham Water Works, have begun implementing their own drought conservation plans.
Beginning November 19th, in order to continue supplying and meeting demands, the Birmingham Water Works will start charging residential customers and businesses an additional surcharge for excessive water use.
Local garden designer and landscaper Gloria Clemmensen is losing work and being hit hard, “We’re at a standstill as far as any new installations until we start getting rain. And Fall typically is a time for planting perennials, trees and shrubs. So it effects my income because I’m doing a lot less of what I would normally do in the autumn.”
Dan Jones, owner of University Coin Laundry, tells WBHM he has not yet been impacted, but knows how he will handle the uptick, “If they hit me with a surcharge, certainly I don’t want that to happen, but it will have to drift down to the customers-cause that’s obviously who’s using the water, not me personally.”
Jones says he cares a lot about the water situation but can’t simply close on a weekday and risk losing business in order to save water.
As for Clemmensen, in order to supplement her income, she’s considering other seasonal work.
With little or no rain predicted anytime soon, drought officials say conditions are expected to worsen. Potential ramifications aren’t quite clear, but clearly have business owners thinking about their bottom line.
Earlier versions of this story referred to Gloria Clemmons. The correct spelling is Gloria Clemmensen. We regret the error.
Alabama Power threatened with lawsuit for contaminating groundwater with coal ash
Nine years after the Gadsden Steam Plant stopped burning coal, its unlined coal ash pond is still polluting Alabama groundwater, records show.
Southwest Airlines will require passengers to keep chargers visible due to fire risk
This year, there have been at least 22 incidents involving lithium batteries in air travel, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Trump administration officially accepts jet from Qatar for use as Air Force One
The plane is a gift that Trump said he would be "stupid" to turn down. Experts say the plane would take years to rework to meet the current standards for Air Force One.
A Jan 6 rioter convicted of assaulting police scored a visit to the White House
Two pardoned Jan. 6 rioters posted photos and videos of themselves visiting the White House. One of them was convicted of assaulting police and texted after the riot, "I have murder in my heart."
The pros and cons of PSA tests for prostate cancer for midlife and older men
With Biden's prostate cancer in the news, men may be wondering whether and at what age to be screened. Advice about the value PSA tests has fluctuated. Here's what to know.
Former Kennedy Center president refutes Trump’s critique of ‘bad management’
"I am deeply troubled by the false allegations regarding the management of the Kennedy Center," Deborah Rutter wrote in a statement.