SILVERHILL — Town leaders, county officials and residents gathered in Silverhill to celebrate the completion of a new water tower, marking a major investment in infrastructure driven by rapid growth and years of coordinated planning.

Silverhill Mayor Jared Lyles said the project reflects both the town's increasing demand for services and the collective effort required to meet it.

"We know everybody that's here today knows that growth is coming to Baldwin County — sometimes, whether we want it or not, it's coming," Lyles said.

That growth forced the town to accelerate its timeline. Originally, officials believed they had a decade before needing expanded water capacity. Instead, rising demand quickly changed those plans.

"We were seeing a steady 10% increase in our water usage every single year," Lyles said. "We knew that we were going to have to do this quicker."

Silverhill has been among the fastest-growing small towns in Baldwin County in recent years. According to population estimates from the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Business and Economic Research, the town's population has grown from about 768 residents in 2020 to more than 2,000 residents in 2024, an increase of more than 100% in four years.

The project, which totals roughly $5 million in water infrastructure improvements, was funded through a combination of state and county grants along with private contributions. According to Lyles, the town secured approximately $3.3 million in grants and an additional $1.5 million through partnerships tied to nearby development.

Lyles said the project extended beyond a single structure, noting the town's entire water system was strengthened.

"We've looped the entire water system of Silverhill in at least 10-inch main, which provides a much more stable water system," he said.

The mayor also highlighted the role of collaboration across multiple levels of government, calling the project an example of effective public service.

"This project has served as a perfect example of how all levels of government can come together and do something good for their communities," Lyles said.

District 3 Baldwin County Commissioner Billie Jo Underwood, who represents central Baldwin, said the project was an easy decision for county leaders given the need for infrastructure improvements and available funding.

"Water improvements was one of the easiest things that you could say yes to," Underwood said. "There was no hesitation among all four of the county commissioners."

For Silverhill, the new water tower stands as both a response to current demand and preparation for future expansion — a necessity, Lyles said, for a town experiencing steady change.

"This project had greater implications for us," he said. "Because of the growth, we knew we had to be ready."

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.