On 11 March 2026, Central Alabama Water, formerly known as the Birmingham Water Works Board, published operating data showing that more than half of the water produced in 2024 generated no revenue. This non-revenue water percentage has more than doubled since 2001, rising from 23% to 53%. Central Alabama Water attributes the yawning gap between water delivered and water billed to two sources. The first is physical losses, such as leaks in the distribution system. The second is apparent losses, such as faulty meter readings and billing errors that yield little to no revenue.
Central Alabama Water serves 204,301 customers across five counties. In May 2025, the Alabama Legislature dissolved the Birmingham Water Works Board and replaced it with a regional board, cutting Birmingham’s appointment power from 100% to 14% and shifting control of US$1.6 billion in assets away from the city. Former board members have sued to overturn this decision, leaving Central Alabama Water’s authority unresolved even as it inherits a system where half of all treated water generates no revenue.
