Underwater bomb discovered at base of dam holding entire city’s drinking water supply… sparking massive federal response

An explosive was discovered underwater at the base of a dam in Alabama that supplies a city and the surrounding region with drinking water.

The device was discovered on Wednesday by divers conducting routine maintenance and repairs on the Converse Reservoir in Mobile County.

A massive emergency response, including the FBI Bomb Squad, was at the scene after the sheriff’s office was notified about the ‘grenade-type IED [improvised explosive device]’.

The bomb was retrieved and safely detonated on land away from the dam, near the city of Mobile. No one was harmed.

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.

‘Our top priority is keeping your drinking water safe,’ said Bud McCrory, director of the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS), which had contracted the divers.

‘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.

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.

An explosive device was discovered underwater at the base of Converse Reservoir dam in Mobile County, Alabama, on Wednesday. Divers are pictured retrieving the explosive

The explosive was discovered by divers who were surveying the dam for routine maintenance and repairs, sparking a multi-agency response to retrieve and safely detonate the device

‘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 water provider pledged to ‘work with relevant law enforcement agencies to enhance security at the reservoir and dam.’

No suspect has been named.

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.

The FBI Bomb Squad was involved in the response, and the Department of Homeland Security was notified of the incident

The Converse Reservoir dam is federally designated critical infrastructure that holds 17 billion gallons of water in Big Creek Lake

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 serve as a buffer against encroaching development and to protect the critical drinking water supply.

The massive response operation included the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordnance Detail, ALEA Bomb Squad and the Daphne Search and Rescue Team.