An explosive device was discovered underwater at the base of a dam in Alabama that supplies the City of Mobile and the surrounding region with drinking water. The explosive was found on Wednesday by divers contracted by the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS), who were surveying the Converse Reservoir dam in Mobile County for routine maintenance and repairs.
Discovery and Immediate Response
The divers immediately reported the device, which MAWSS described as 'a grenade-type IED (improvised explosive device).' The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office was notified, and a large, multi-agency response involving federal partners ensued. Those agencies included the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordnance Detail, ALEA Bomb Squad, and the Daphne Search and Rescue Team.
The explosive was retrieved and safely detonated on land away from the dam. No one was harmed.
Official Statements
'Our top priority is keeping your drinking water safe,' said MAWSS Director Bud McCrory in a public statement. 'This is an unprecedented threat, and we are fortunate that this device was discovered before it could cause serious damage to our water supply or harm to individuals,' he continued. 'We are grateful for the professionalism and competency of our law enforcement partners – as well as the quick thinking of our contractors and divers – in identifying this device and safely destroying it,' McCrory concluded.
Critical Infrastructure and Investigation
The Converse Reservoir dam and the water supply it holds in Big Creek Lake are federally designated as critical infrastructure, so the incident was referred to the Department of Homeland Security. MAWSS pledged to 'work with relevant law enforcement agencies to enhance security at the reservoir and dam.'
It is unclear how the explosive made it to the bottom of the dam, but bomb experts told 1819News that the device was likely purposely built and placed there. MAWSS has not named a suspect for who may be responsible.
Security Measures
Monica Allen, the public relations manager for the agency, told 1819News that there are cameras around the dam to monitor activity. She added that she is thankful no one was hurt because 'our staff is on that dam, if not daily, every other day.' 'And there are homes in that area, so you just don’t know. We live in a different kind of world now,' Allen added.
Dam Details
The Converse Reservoir dam was built in 1952 and holds 17 billion gallons of water, supplying the City of Mobile and its surrounding area with drinkable water, according to MAWSS, which manages the infrastructure. The agency owns 9,000 acres of land surrounding the reservoir to act as a buffer to encroaching development and protect the critical drinking water supply.
