From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — The Jefferson County Department of Environmental Services advised people late Tuesday night to avoid fishing and swimming in the Cahaba River from US Hwy. 31 to AL Hwy. 52 until further notice.
The advisory follows a force main break that occurred a few hundred feet from the Cahaba River near Hwy. 31 in Riverchase. According to Environmental Services Director David Denard, a contractor was inspecting the force main and inadvertently damaged it. The county has placed signs asking people to avoid the area.
“This is an unfortunate accident, but we want to be sure to advise the public to stay away from the area,” Denard said. “This is a popular time for people to be fishing and floating on the Cahaba and we would advise against that, until we can get this force main repaired.”