East Birmingham church tells council it lost water service, seeks help amid legal dispute with waterworks

Ricky Green of East Birmingham Church Ministries addressed the council to report an ongoing dispute with the Birmingham Water Works. Green said the water authority removed the church’s meter after alleging the property used “1,000,000 gallons” in a month and presented a bill of roughly $60,000. He said the church has spent thousands on plumbers to find an interior leak, that pumps are required weekly to remove water from an active basement leak, and that a judge ordered the meter returned. Green said the waterworks had not yet complied with that court order.

Council members responded that the waterworks matter is the subject of ongoing litigation and that the city’s authority is constrained by state actions and the structure of the water authority. Council President Alexander and other councilors suggested Green raise the issue with state legislators and noted Central Alabama Water board meeting locations have moved, complicating public oversight. Councilor Dr. O'Quinn and others encouraged legal counsel and continued documentation; councilors expressed sympathy and concern for the church’s hardship but said municipal remedies are limited while litigation is ongoing.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; council members urged the speaker to pursue legal remedies already in progress and to engage the state delegation for potential recourse.