Alabama City Relaxes Water Rules

The Birmingham, Alabama City Council eased the city's restrictions on water use, extending the hours for outside watering and lifting a ban on carwashes that don't recycle water.

The city extended outside watering hours from the current five hours between 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. to the 12 hours between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. Rotating days for watering remain in effect. The new rules only apply to residents and businesses in Birmingham.

The city's watering guidelines were among the most restrictive in the area, following the Birmingham Water Works Board's Stage 3 drought declaration last month.

The relaxed rules came after the city's new-car dealerships pleaded for help. Most of those businesses don't recycle water but are required to wash newly delivered or sold vehicles.

In the interest of fairness, Mayor Bernard Kincaid said he also asked the council to consider easing the burden on commercial carwashes.

Most of the city's 44 licensed carwashes have closed because they lacked the ability to recycle water, as was required in the previous ordinance. He knew of only two with recycling capabilities.

"In effect, we have put 42 businesses out of business," Kincaid said.

Brett McBrayer, president of the Birmingham Automobile Dealers Association, urged the council to approve the changes, saying Birmingham dealers had an extra burden with the requirement. Many of the businesses bought 500 gallon tanks of water from surrounding areas such as Bessemer and Fairfield, he said.

Kincaid said city officials will contact all the carwash owners letting them know of the exemption.

That's good news to Felicia Etheridge, owner of Etheridge Brothers Car Wash and Detail downtown, who has hauled water from a church in Bessemer in large tanks once or twice a week since water restrictions were imposed in June.

The hum of a pressure washer drowned out conversations between workers detailing five cars.

"It's been a struggle, and I've been exhausted," she said.

To keep her business going she spent money on pressure washers, two water tanks and other equipment to replace the water hoses she used.

"I honestly did what they said and I didn't use my water," she said.

Kincaid said changes to the ordinance were made after talking to Water Works officials. Water Works General Manager Mac Underwood did not protest the modification.

The Water Works can only recommend ordinances to cities but has no enforcement authority beyond implementing water use surcharges, Underwood said.

Birmingham's action comes after other cities including Vestavia Hills and Mountain Brook have eased some of their watering rules.

"It's a concern if they ease them too much," Underwood said. But so far, no city has gone to that level, he said.

Public hearing Aug. 7:

Councilman Roderick Royal voted for the changes, but remained concerned about lessening restrictions while the drought continues.

"Either we're in a Stage 3 drought or we're not," he said later. "I believe we lessen the effect of the ordinance by chipping away at it."

The council will hold a hearing Aug. 7 to give residents and businesses a chance to discuss the city's water restrictions. The Water Works Board will be asked to attend.

"We need to make sure we cover all bases to make sure people have an opportunity to say how this infringes on their businesses," said Councilman Steven Hoyt, who suggested the hearing. "It also brings some fairness and balance to this process."