The current drought conditions are unmistakable, but certainly not unpredictable.

To the contrary, the Birmingham region has had periodic wake up calls for the past several decades.

Question is, has everyone at the waterworks board been pushing the preverbal snooze button, collecting their pay checks and sleeping on the job?

Now the BWWB wants to spend 2.4 million dollars of ratepayer money for a “study” of the systems needs.

Here is a suggestion to save the 2.4 million dollars — we need more water!

For decades there have been plans on the table for new reservoirs, but surrounded by water on all sides. For us to have a water shortage is no less incredulous than if Saudi Arabia were to have an oil shortage.

Pitifully poor management and lack of planning is the culprit, not periodic droughts. We can capture and store our water needs, but this board is woefully ill-equipped to provide for the public’s water welfare.

The water works should perform in a manner that meets customer needs and prepares for growth and economic prosperity.

Ask the business owners that depend on water for their living if mere survival is possible under these conditions.

Many businesses will fail due to the restrictions. Tax revenues will be lost when retailers cannot sell plants, fertilizers, car wash items, lawn mowers and associated items.

Property owners are watching millions of dollars worth of landscape and lawns being lost to the sun without watering available. This is a failed governmental system at its worst.

Under the level 3 restrictions, customers of the water board are now faced with criminal penalties for using “excess” water.

Neighbors are policing their neighbors. Chicken Little was seen in the streets predicting “the sky is falling.”

How does the water board decide what is “excess” water use. Is 9,900 gallons a month correct for all households?

How about the “empty nesters” with no children versus the family of six with showers and clothes to wash?

How can they say whose needs are more important?

Oh yea, they collect more money for selling less product if they can find the “criminals,” what a concept!

There are certainly criminals in this situation. They are the criminally derelict water board members who eagerly cash their checks for “meetings” and out of town trips, while neglecting the water needs of the rate payers.

This board suspends rules on member term limits and feeds from the public trough at their pleasure. It may be time for a good old fashioned “Birmingham Tea Party” to run this board out of town. After decades of poor leadership by the likes of Barnes and Lowery, et.al., we certainly cannot do any worse.

Russell Smith

Gardendale, Ala.