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Authorities still do not know who placed the device beneath the water or how long it had been sitting there undetected. Investigators are now treating the incident with extreme seriousness because the reservoir and dam are classified as federally protected critical infrastructure.
That designation immediately brought the Department of Homeland Security into the investigation.
Bomb experts speaking to local outlet 1819News reportedly believe the explosive was intentionally assembled and strategically placed, fueling fears that the incident may have been more than a random act of vandalism.
For residents living near the reservoir, the news hit hard.
The dam supplies drinking water to Mobile and surrounding communities, meaning any successful explosion could have created devastating consequences ranging from infrastructure damage to contamination concerns and public safety chaos.
“Our top priority is keeping your drinking water safe,” said Bud McCrory, director of the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS), which hired the divers working at the site.
“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.
McCrory praised the rapid response from law enforcement and emergency personnel who moved quickly to neutralize the threat before disaster struck.
“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.
The incident has now triggered increased security measures around the reservoir and surrounding dam structures as investigators work to determine whether the explosive was connected to a broader threat.
Officials confirmed the area is already monitored by surveillance cameras, though investigators have not yet announced whether footage captured any suspicious activity.
Monica Allen, the agency’s public relations manager, said the discovery deeply rattled employees because workers are constantly stationed near the dam.
She noted that crews regularly perform inspections and maintenance in the exact area where the device was found.
She added that she is thankful no one was hurt because “our staff is on that dam, if not daily, every other day.”
Allen also pointed out that neighborhoods sit near the reservoir, underscoring the potential danger had the explosive detonated unexpectedly.
“And there are homes in that area, so you just don’t know. We live in a different kind of world now,” Allen added.
The discovery comes at a time when national security concerns surrounding critical infrastructure have intensified across the country. Federal agencies have repeatedly warned that water systems, dams, and power facilities remain vulnerable targets for sabotage or terrorism attempts.
While investigators have not publicly labeled the Alabama incident as terrorism, the involvement of Homeland Security signals the seriousness of the threat authorities believe they may be dealing with.
So far, no suspects have been identified and no arrests have been announced.
Investigators are expected to continue reviewing surveillance footage, contractor activity, and possible access points around the reservoir in an effort to determine who planted the explosive device beneath one of Alabama’s key water systems.
For now, residents are left with an unsettling reality: a live explosive sat hidden underwater near a major drinking water source until a group of maintenance divers stumbled across it by sheer luck.
