Residents in the Caldwell Subdivision in Brundidge will see a flurry of activity in their neighborhood beginning Monday as water line replacement begins.

The city received a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to replace the 60-year-old cast iron water lines in the Caldwell Subdivision. The project has a 90-day completion date.

Britt Thomas, Brundidge city manager, said the CDBG is in the amount of $350,000 with the city’s match at $56,597.

“The city will use the funds to address two of the city’s most urgent needs,” Thomas said. “Water needs in the Caldwell Subdivision area must be addressed due to the extremely poor condition and imminent failure of the aging waterlines, as well as substandard fire protection with undersized hydrants.”

Thomas said the four-inch, unlined cast iron water lines in the Caldwell Subdivision are completely rusted and rotted in the ground.

“Water only continues to flow to households due to the fact that the surrounding clay has hardened around the rusted pipe from the leaking water and minerals and still retains the shape of the decayed, unlined, cast iron pipe,” Thomas said. “These pipes will be replaced with 6-inch PVC pipes which will greatly improve the water pressure in that area and improve firefighting capabilities. The existing fire hydrants will be replaced with 6-inch hydrants.

Thomas said that most of the work done to replace the water lines would be done behind the curb to keep from digging up the streets. The work could cause some inconvenience to the residents.

“All landscaping necessary to restore disturbed areas of residents’ yards, including flower beds, sprinkler heads, ornamental yard fixtures, will be done,” Thomas said. “However this does not include solid sod but does include the removal and replacement of sidewalks.”

The city asks for the residents’ cooperation and patience, as work is underway to make improvements to the city’s water system.

Along with the water improvements, the city will eliminate 20 unoccupied, dilapidated residential structures in the city.