The Duck River
Reservoir Project...
is a fully permitted project to construct a 650 acre reservoir which will meet water needs for the next 75 years.
provides Cullman with additional drought-resistance
is located only six miles east of the Cullman water treatment plant.
offers Cullman complete ownership of the facilities and water rights.
provides a second water supply that can be routinely used to optimize water quality to the water treatment plant.
The task of finding an alternative water source for the Cullman region has been researched and debated since the early 1990s. Since 1993, studies have been conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to determine the best option for this alternative water source. The results of these studies always come back to Duck River
Current Structure
The Utilities Board of the City of Cullman owns the Lake Catoma Reservoir and operates the Cullman Water Treatment Plant. The Cullman Treatment Plant is located on Highway 278 East(approximately seven miles from the proposed Duck River site). It is capable of producing 24 mgd (million gallons of water per day).
The Utilities Board supplies water for the City of Cullman which in turn sells water to Cullman County, East Cullman, VAW, Walter, and Johnson's Crossing Water Systems. An annual audit determines the cost of the water for everyone. This is a not-for-profit cost-based operation.
The City of Cullman pays the same price for water as every other system. The systems in turn set their own water rates.