Water Department - Tuscumbia Utilities

About Tuscumbia Water Department

Tuscumbia Water Department is fortunate to have an abundant supply of water from a natural spring located near the downtown area. This body of water is known as "Tuscumbia Big Spring" and is supplied from three underground springs for a total of up to 50-MGD (million gallons per day). The Big Spring is the largest of three springs used in the state of Alabama for municipal water supply.

This water is pumped to the Tuscumbia Water Treatment Plant, located at 307 S Indian Street, where the treatment process includes coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, and fluoridation. The treatment plant can supply up to 4 MGD.

Water is stored in five storage tanks for a total of 1,500,000 gallons. This storage is used to meet system demands and fire flow requirements. The water is then distributed through over 70 miles of mains and service lines to over 5000 customers in our service area. Water is also supplied to the Littleville, Spring Valley, and Colbert County Water Systems.

After distribution and use, waste water is then returned to the Tuscumbia Waste Water Treatment Plant which has a capacity of 2.5 MGD and is a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) plant with ultraviolet disinfection. The resulting sludge is sent to the landfill.

Tuscumbia Water Department meets all state (ADEM) and federal (EPA) requirements. Laboratory tests are performed continually to insure that the highest water quality is produced for the community and service area.

Water Safety

How hot is your water? Water temperature of the bathtub or faucet should never exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If too hot, adjust the water heater setting or call a professional.

Bathtub Safety:

Turn on cold water first, then add hot. Turn off hot water first, then cold.
Do not put a child in the tub while water is running.
Always stay with your young child. Children can turn hot water on by themselves, leading to scalds or drowning in seconds.
Check for hot spots by moving your hand through the water before placing a child in the tub.

Water Conservation

Water is a valuable and limited resource. Here are ways to use less:

Fix Leaks: A slow drip can waste 15-20 gallons a day.
Check Toilets: Put food coloring in the tank. If color appears in the bowl without flushing, there is a leak (up to 100 gallons/day).
Shorten Showers: 5 minutes or 5 inches of bathwater is plenty.
Full Loads Only: Run dishwashers and washing machines only when full.
Lawn Care: Water only when needed, avoiding midday heat and wind. Soaker hoses are 20% more efficient than sprinklers.

Water Leak & Adjustment Policy

Unusually high bill? You might have a leak.

Check the Toilet: (90% of leaks). Use food coloring in the tank to check for seeping valves. Free dye tablets available at our office.
Check the Service Line: Turn off all water sources (including icemakers). Check your water meter's leak indicator. If it's moving, the leak is likely between the meter and the house.

If you find and fix a leak, call us at (256) 383-0321 to see if you qualify for a "water leak" adjustment.

Learn to Read Your Water Meter

Reading your meter helps track usage. Your bill is based on hundreds of cubic feet (ccf).

Odometer Style: Read the numbers from left to right tailored to the dial setting (usually first 4 numbers).

Reading Tips:

Read your meter daily and subtract the previous reading to calculate daily usage.
Meters are highly accurate. If consumption spikes, suspect a leak first.
Still confused? Call our office at (256) 383-0321.