Words and Images by Jenny Lynn Davis
Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed hosted an event in Oakman on Wednesday, June 5, to announce the allocation of $6.7 Million in grant awards. These funds are aimed at improving water infrastructure and capacity in communities across northwest Alabama, particularly in response to the severe water shortages experienced in January.
The areas affected include portions of Walker, Fayette, and Tuscaloosa Counties, which faced an extended period of drought accompanied by freezing weather. This combination placed immense strain on the water infrastructure, leading to critical issues with water tank capacity and reserve supplies.
“Because of these conditions occurring simultaneously, a prolonged period of strain on water infrastructure in these areas directly impacted citizens’ ability to access water for drinking, cooking, bathing, and other daily necessities. Some people throughout the region faced water outages or shortages for 16 days, relying on bottled water for everything,” said Reed. “Nobody wanted it to be that way; it wasn’t anyone’s fault; it was just a crisis that occurred because the infrastructure could not support the conditions.”
The grants were sourced primarily from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA). Additionally, Warrior Met Coal contributed a private match to support the initiative.
Several state leaders who played pivotal roles in securing these resources were present at the event alongside Senator Reed, including ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell, Representative Matt Woods (R-Jasper), Representative Tim Wadsworth (R-Arley), and Representative Brian Brinyark (R-Windham Springs). Local leaders and officials from Walker, Fayette, and Tuscaloosa Counties also attended the announcement, underscoring the collaborative effort to address the region’s water infrastructure needs.
“Those 16 days without water were rough,” said Oakman Mayor Cory Franks. “Oftentimes in rural communities throughout the 67 counties, it’s easy to feel forgotten because you don’t have the means to do what other cities are able to do … but I’m thankful for the things our legislators have been able to do for us, Being a small rural community, we have to lean on them to get the resources we need, and they really showed up during this event, and we thank them for all that hard work.”
Parrish Mayor Bubba Cagle added, “When one community wins, we all win. Anytime that small towns and rural communities like Oakman and Parrish are able to receive some funding, it’s a great day for us. Without funds from sources like this, it would be hard for us to progress and advance … we’re just really thankful and excited about the progress and continued collaboration.”
These projects, which are already fully funded, are in various stages of the bid and construction processes. Local officials expressed hope that the improvements would be completed by June 2026, ensuring long-term solutions to the water challenges faced by these communities.
“I could not be any more excited about what we’re doing,” said Reed. “When you’re involved in public service, the number one, best thing you get to do is serve. These kinds of resources are going to make generational changes in these communities, and that’s something to be proud of.” WL
