A big oops: Regional water utility shuts off service at wrong apartments

Dozens of residents at a Birmingham public housing complex were left without running water for hours late Thursday after a major error by Central Alabama Water. The regional utility mistakenly shut off service to 48 units at the Morell Todd Homes in the Kingston neighborhood, causing significant disruption for local families.

Utility Cites Internal Error

Central Alabama Water confirmed to 205focus.com that the disconnection stemmed from a false work order generated by the utility. While the complex houses roughly 456 units, only 48 were impacted during the three-hour outage.

"CAW apologizes for this error and the impact it had on the residents of Morrell Todd Homes and the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District," spokesman John Matson stated. "We are in the process of implementing procedures to prevent this type of error from happening in the future."

Board Friction Amid Accusations of Indifference

The situation drew sharp criticism from Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson, who serves on the water board. Tyson, one of only two board members representing Birmingham, blasted the utility for the incident and suggested the error reflected a broader culture of indifference.

"Because they are an underserved community, are you going to take your time?" Tyson asked. "Do you not feel they have the will or the strength to fight you?" She argued that if the error had occurred in more affluent areas like Mountain Brook, Vestavia, or Homewood, technicians would have exercised greater caution before cutting off service to residents, including senior citizens and children.

This latest incident highlights the growing tensions within the board, which has seen frequent 5-2 voting splits since the state legislature reconfigured its structure last year. Along with board member Jarvis Patton, Tyson has repeatedly voiced concerns regarding an alleged anti-Birmingham bias within the new management, a claim other board members have denied.