Sunita Somvanshi
Alabama Power’s fiber optic drilling project in Vandiver, Alabama has left multiple homes without running water since January 2025, sparking a lawsuit from affected residents. The drilling, conducted by contractor REM Directional Inc., allegedly punctured an aquifer, draining the groundwater reservoir that supplies private wells in the Lake View Circle community on Coosa Mountain.
“The quaint Lake View Circle community, on top of Coosa Mountain, is in crisis mode. Five of the twelve homes have had no water for weeks. The wells are completely dry,” Stuart Ellis Holland wrote in a social media post. Ellis explained that “REM Directional Inc, contracted by Alabama Power, has been drilling for weeks a hole through the mountain to run fiber optic cable underground. During this process, REM has drilled into our underground reservoir releasing tens of thousands of gallons water, hence our wells are now empty.”
The situation has worsened over time. What began as five affected homes has expanded to eight households reporting completely dry wells, forcing residents to rely on water tanks and bottled water provided by Alabama Power.
Marina Wall, another affected resident, expressed uncertainty about her future: “This is my first home, I don’t know if the investment I made is going to turn out to be a good one long term.” In a social media post, Wall urged community action: “We have a law firm representing those who have been directly affected and those who potentially will be from this disturbance. I strongly encourage our community to join, especially if you rely on a well for your drinking water, irrigation, or farm animals!”
On February 11, a Shelby County judge ordered Alabama Power and REM Directional Drilling to work 24 hours a day to fix the water leak. Peter Adkins, whose well ran dry after decades of reliable service: “These wells have been up, like Mrs. Vicki, she’s been up for 44 years.” He added with frustration: “Nature didn’t create this, it’s human people drilling on our mountain that took our water away.”
Attorney Bruce Romeo, representing the homeowners, explained the scope of the problem: “Essentially everybody’s land that is around there is all on well water, is leaking or is totally depleted.” The judge initially signed a temporary restraining order stopping work on the project. However, in a subsequent hearing, testimony revealed that completing the drilling might be the only solution – though company representatives acknowledged this approach might not work.
As of early March 2025, Alabama Power reported they’ve completed the drilling phase. “We have completed drilling and conduit installation, and we are now working to seal the space around the conduit. Upon completion, we can fully assess any impacted wells,” the company stated. Alabama Power has provided affected residents with hotel rooms, above-ground water tanks, and bottled water while seeking a permanent solution.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Chris House, a resident of Oak Mountain, reported experiencing identical problems after Alabama Power conducted similar drilling operations in his area two years ago. “This is identical to what has happened to us,” House said. “Before Alabama Power began drilling in 2023, his well pump could fill this entire 3000 gallon tank in a day. Now, he says he’s lucky to get three inches in 24 hours,” according to news reports. House noted the limited water supply is “just enough to get by with. But if you’re a family of four, I don’t think it would be sufficient.”
The situation raises questions about drilling procedures in aquifer-rich geological formations. Bruce Romeo cited the Oak Mountain incident as evidence that Alabama Power knew the risks: “They say that they had no expectation or knowledge that this was a foreseeable thing. Now, this calls that into question, obviously.”
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Tommy Fish, another local homeowner, expressed worries about long-term impacts: “We’re worried about property values. How will we get water in the future?” According to ABC 33/40 News, one resident spent nearly $5,000 trying to resolve the issue before discovering the true cause.
Residents claim they weren’t consulted before the drilling began. Attorney Bruce Romeo questioned the planning process: “How did they not know what was below the surface? We’re trying to figure that out as well.” He added, “According to Alabama Power, they consulted with a retained third-party geotechnical firm, but the truth is nobody knows what to do.”
Marina Wall summarized the uncertainty facing residents: “As far as next steps, we’re not really sure. We haven’t been given answers, so we’re kind of just waiting. We’re waiting on the court decisions. We’re waiting on power and the drilling company to have a solution, but in the short term we don’t want to live like this. We haven’t been living like this, and long-term, this isn’t feasible.”
Alabama Power and the affected homeowners were scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, to provide updates on how the company plans to address the well water issues. This case highlights tensions between infrastructure development and groundwater resource protection in rural communities dependent on private wells.
