Overview

The task of finding an alternative water source for the Cullman region has been researched and debated since the early 1990s. Since 1993, studies have been conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the best option for this alternative water source. The results of these studies always come back to Duck River

Current Structure

The Utilities Board of the City of Cullman owns the Lake Catoma Reservoir and operates the Cullman Water Treatment Plant. The Cullman Treatment Plant is located on Highway 278 East(approximately seven miles from the proposed Duck River site). It is capable of producing 24 mgd (million gallons of water per day).

The Utilities Board supplies water for the City of Cullman which in turn sells water to Cullman County, East Cullman, VAW, Walter, and Johnson's Crossing Water Systems. An annual audit determines the cost of the water for everyone. This is a not-for-profit cost-based operation.

The City of Cullman pays the same price for water as every other system. The systems in turn set their own water rates.

How the Process Works

A nine-member committee was created in 1993 to oversee the water supply research and the final decision. A study was conducted by the Nashville Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to find a suitable water source for emergency and future water supply needs. Every time the Corps of Engineers eliminated an option, they had to justify their decision in writing.

The options that were considered included:

• Duck River (Three Options)
• Tennessee River (Two Options)
• Two dams on the Mulberry River
• Dam above Lake Catoma
• Dam on Brindley Creek
• Dam on Flint Creek
• Wells
• Smith Lake (Two Options)
• A dam on the western side of Cullman County

*This option received very little consideration because it would have been in the Smith Lake drainage basin and Alabama Power Company (APCO) openly opposed that alternative.