High Water Bills: Community Meeting Scheduled With Water Works

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Birmingham Water Works Board customers were expecting a slight increase in their water bills in January, as the board announced in November it would be implementing a 3.9 percent rate increase. But many Birmingham residents say they have seen their water bills increase exponentially in the last month, so a community meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday night to discuss this matter with a BWWB representative.

The meeting will be held at the Birmingham Police Department West precinct Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the community room, and a a representative from the BWWB and the Jefferson County Sewer will attend the meeting.

The board announced that the rate increase is meant to offset nearly $1 billion in debt. This announcement was made almost simultaneously with the release from jail of BWWB chair Sherry Lewis, who was convicted in October of using her position for personal gain, or for the gain of a family member, and voting on matters in which she or her family members had financial interest — including a no-show job for a family member, free meals and other improper benefits. She faced up to 20 years in prison for the crimes.

Those planning to attend the meeting are asked to bring a current bill and previous bill from December 2019.