Katie Britt

Two of Alabama’s federal officials have expressed their gratitude for the successful operation that removed an explosive device from a south Alabama reservoir.

A grenade type-IED was discovered by divers at the Converse Reservoir dam Wednesday during a routine repair process, according to the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System.

A multi-agency operation was coordinated to remove and detonate the explosive that included the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Gulf Coast Regional Maritime and Render-Safe Team, FBI Bomb Squad, Police Department Explosive Ordinance Detail, ALEA Bomb Squad, and the Daphne Search and Rescue Team.

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, praised the operation and maintaining the security of critical infrastructure.

“We are thankful for the diligent work that led to identifying this device and for the multi-agency response team that was able to detonate the device,” Britt said.

“Ensuring that our reservoirs remain secure is critical. My team and I have been in contact with state and local officials. We are thankful no one was harmed.”

“Thankful for local, state, and federal law enforcements quick response to this matter and that no one was hurt,” Moore said. “My office is continuing to monitor any developments with state and local officials.”

MAWSS Director, Bud McCrory, called the incident an “unprecedented threat” as the dam holds Mobile’s drinking water.

The reservoir and dam are federally recognized infrastructure and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is aware of the incident.