Divers conducting routine maintenance at a drinking-water dam in Mobile, Alabama discovered an underwater grenade-type improvised explosive device at Converse Reservoir. The incident occurred at a critical infrastructure site supplying drinking water to approximately 350,000 residents in the Mobile area.

Converse Reservoir, also known as Big Creek Lake, is federally designated critical infrastructure. Authorities notified the Department of Homeland Security and have been investigating the device since its discovery.

A multi-agency response team, including the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Bomb Squad, Mobile Police Department Explosive Ordinance Detail, ALEA Bomb Squad, and Daphne Search and Rescue Team, retrieved and detonated the device. The operation was conducted by the Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team.

MAWSS Director Bud McCrory stated that the utility’s top priority remains ensuring safe drinking water. He described the discovery as an unprecedented threat and emphasized that officials were fortunate to find the device before it could cause significant damage to the water supply or harm individuals.

Officials have not identified a suspect, motive, or method of placement for the device.