After handing out bottled water to residents and businesses, the City of Hamilton seems to be returning to normal as the effects of the disastrous holdup of its water system winds down.
Since Friday morning, Hamilton has been under a state of emergency after a leaked sediment caused the city's water plant to shut down.
Several schools in the city were shut down on Friday, and the City of Hamilton Water Department was cautioning residents to conserve water as it deals with an issue of contaminated water at the treatment plant, leading to concerns the city could run out of water entirely.
The water treatment plant had to shut down after a large influx of silt and other sediments entered after a dam at a local farm pond broke, leaking its contents into a creek and flowing into the Buttahatchee River. The water could not be treated after the sediment entered the plant, causing it to shut down while officials pumped out the contaminated water.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page told 1819 News on Tuesday that the city, aided by volunteers, has been handing out packages of water to residents, hospitals, and other stores.
"Saturday, we were handing out water," Page said. "Sunday, we were handing out water. Sunday afternoon, the lines stopped coming, so we shut down our official water delivery site and moved it to the fire department, and continued to give out water to the schools and hospitals so they would have plenty of water."
Page also told 1819 News that the city was still under a "boil water" advisement until a Tuscaloosa lab could analyze a water sample.
"Things are much improved," Page said. "Our water plant started producing water late Friday afternoon when the mud ran on toward Sulligent that was on the surface of the river. This mud would not dissipate in the water. It was so thick. It was literally floating on the surface of the water and moving at such a snail's pace, we were afraid it might take a week to get the water to move south of Hamilton, but it's moved on down the Buttahatchee intact."
He continued, "We are back in business. We have water in every tank. We don't have every tank full yet, but we're gaining water every day. So basically, considering what we were hit with, I think we are blessed to be where we are today."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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