'This isn't a 3rd world country': Water restored at Hoover apartment after 2 weeks

HOOVER, Ala. (WBMA) — Taking a shower. Brushing your teeth. Flushing a toilet. They are everyday things most people never have to think twice about, but for residents at Lorna Place Apartments in Hoover, those basic necessities were out of reach for 15 days.

Several residents contacted ABC 33/40’s I-Team asking for help getting answers about when their water would be restored.

Residents told the I-Team they had been filling buckets to flush their toilets, buying bottled water and finding other places to bathe.

One woman who lives at Lorna Place spoke with the I-Team in Spanish. Her comments below were translated into English.

“It has been very complicated because we have to go to other apartments to bathe, we have to buy processed food…. and we have small children so they can’t be eating that food all the time. We can’t even use the bathroom. Well, we have to go to Walmart or another establishment…. or simply to bathe, we have to heat water and then it’s not something pleasant,” she explained.

Why was the water shut off?

Central Alabama Water says water service at Lorna Place was shut off August 31, 2026, because the apartment complex owed more than $75,000 after several months of non-payment.

In a statement to ABC 33/40, CAW said:

Water service was shut off August 31, 2026, because the apartment complex owes more than $75,000 after several months of non-payment. CAW entered into a payment agreement with the apartment complex earlier this year, but they violated that agreement. The apartment complex has not paid its bill.

CAW also said it followed its policies and procedures before shutting off the water, including notifying residents, the Jefferson County Department of Health and the City of Hoover.

According to CAW, someone turned the water back on without permission after the initial shutoff, forcing the utility to shut the water off a second time.

CAW says it worked with the apartment complex’s management team multiple times in an effort to prevent the shutoff.

We understand the loss of water service is difficult for the residents of the apartment complex. However, CAW worked with the apartment complex’s management team multiple times in an attempt to prevent this action.

Residents described the challenges of going without running water.

“We have to go collect water bottles so we can shower, buy a lot of water packages so we can wash our teeth, our hands, our plates. Recently, in the last three days, the police and the churches have been helping us with water,” a resident said.

I-Team attempts to get answers

ABC 33/40’s I-Team reporter Valerie Bell went to Lorna Place Apartments to try to speak directly with management.

Bell attempted to visit the property’s leasing office, but the office was boarded up and no workers were present when the I-Team visited.

The I-Team also called and left messages for Contour Companies, the Michigan-based corporation connected to ownership of the property, seeking answers about the water shutoff, the outstanding bill and the conditions at the complex.

The I-Team has not received a response from the property management at this time.

Water restored

The water has been restored at Lorna Place as of Monday afternoon.

The City of Hoover says the property’s ownership made a substantial payment toward its delinquent account, allowing Central Alabama Water to restore service.

Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis said in a statement that restoring water was the immediate priority for residents who had gone nearly two weeks without running water.

This is welcome news, first and foremost, for the residents who endured nearly two weeks without running water. Restoring this essential service was the immediate humanitarian and public-health priority. These families can once again access water for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning and basic sanitation.

Derzis thanked Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens, who also serves on the Jefferson County Board of Health, along with Jefferson County Health Officer Dr. David Hicks and Central Alabama Water for their involvement.

The Mayor’s Office says it began coordinating an emergency response after learning about the situation late last week.

That response included the Hoover Police Department, Hoover Fire Department, Hoover Helps, Hunter Street Baptist Church and Church of the Highlands.

According to the City, Hoover police officers were deployed to assist residents, maintain public safety and help distribute water. Hoover firefighters repeatedly refilled a large bulk-water container so residents could obtain water for sanitation and household needs, according to the city. The city adds, Hoover Helps also delivered several loads of bottled water, while Hunter Street Baptist Church and Church of the Highlands provided donations and volunteers to distribute water directly to residents.

The City says volunteers remained at the property throughout the day so residents returning from work would also have access to water.

Commissioner Stephens weighs in

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens is also a member of the Jefferson County Board of Health.

Stephens said the situation should not have happened.

“This is Birmingham, Alabama. This is Hoover, Alabama. Things like this do not occur here. This isn’t a third world country. And we need to treat all of our citizens with the respect and dignity that everyone has,” said Stephens.

Stephens said officials recognized there was a legal process that needed to be followed while also working to make sure residents had access to water.

“Well, we recognized the problem, and we understood that there was a legal solution to this. And my role was to try to make sure that these residents had water while the legal solution was being worked out,” said Stephens.

When asked what could be done to prevent a similar situation from happening again, Stephens said, ” communication is the key.”

Stephens also said Mayor Derzis assured him the conditions at the apartment complex were not acceptable and that code violations would be addressed.

“Mayor Derzis assured me that that type of operation was not acceptable in his administration. And that he would work diligently to make sure that all code violations were corrected. And that they would be monitored in the future,” said Stephens.

Other concerns observed at Lorna Place

The water crisis was not the only concern the I-Team observed while visiting Lorna Place.

Contour Companies’ website describes Lorna Place as “idyllic.”

During the I-Team’s visit, however, we observed a community pool that appeared green, with trash floating in the water.

We also observed doors that appeared to be damaged or broken, damage to portions of the roof and building, and electrical boxes that were left open.

The I-Team also contacted the Jefferson County Department of Health with questions about the public-health implications of residents living without running water and whether the department had received complaints or taken any action related to the property.

The I-Team is still awaiting additional information from the Health Department.

Active criminal investigation

According to the city, the Hoover Police Department’s investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unpaid water bill remains active.

In a written response to ABC 33/40, the city says “Mayor Derzis directed Hoover Police Chief Clay Morris to open the investigation last week after the City learned that residents’ rent payments reportedly included charges for water and sewer service, yet the property’s utility account had not been paid.”

Investigators are now reviewing records and interviewing residents to determine if funds were misappropriated or unlawfully mishandled.

“The restoration of water service does not end our investigation or eliminate the need for accountability,” Mayor Derzis said. “People who paid their rent and utility costs deserve to know what happened to that money and why their water bill was not paid.”

According to the city, District Attorney Danny Carr has assured Mayor Derzis that his office will prosecute any unlawful acts supported by the evidence to the fullest extent of the law.

“Our investigation will follow the facts wherever they lead,” Mayor Derzis said. “If the evidence establishes that money was stolen or criminally mishandled, we will turn those findings over to the District Attorney.”

The release provided to ABC 33/40 from the city also details a broader review of the property that’s now underway:

City officials are also conducting a broader administrative review of the property to better understand its current operating conditions and confirm compliance with applicable City requirements. The review may include building, fire, safety, sanitation and property-maintenance standards, as well as business-license, tax and other administrative obligations. This is a fact-finding process, and the City has not reached any conclusions regarding whether additional violations have occurred.

Residents want improvements

While water service has now been restored, residents told the I-Team they hope it stays that way and that other conditions at the complex improve.

One resident said she had continued paying rent during the water shutoff.

Her comments below were translated from Spanish:

“We recently just paid the rent because it’s illegal in Alabama not to pay it. What I would like is for them to reconnect the water, and well, I don’t know, maybe they would discount us something from the recent for all the days we didn’t have water.”

As of Monday afternoon, Central Alabama Water says it has restored service after the property made a substantial payment toward its delinquent account.

Central Alabama Water (CAW) agreed to turn on the water at Lorna Place Apartments after its management team made a partial payment. We know this has been an incredibly difficult time for the residents of the apartment complex, and we’re glad this payment was made so we can restore water service. CAW is communicating with the City of Hoover and the Jefferson County Department of Health as the situation evolves.

The I-Team will continue working to get answers from Lorna Place’s ownership and management about the outstanding water bill, the conditions at the property and what is being done to prevent another disruption.