MLGW is asking Memphis businesses to let office employees work from home Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 27 and 28, in order to reduce water use in office buildings as the utility continues to work to fix the area’s water system.

In his latest update, Memphis Light, Gas and Water’s President and CEO Doug McGowen put particular emphasis on the problems created by having office workers in commercial buildings, specifically low and fluctuating water pressure in office buildings and the impact that has on commercial restrooms.

“To the extent possible for office workers, on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, please allow the maximum opportunity for remote work so that we can avoid having significant plumbing function issues in your offices,” McGowen said. “Thanks for helping us in that way.”

MLGW also has been particularly focused on commercial customers where fire protection systems have had leaks. Such systems, McGowen said, “are designed to deliver very high volumes of water, and when they break, they cause dramatic drops in our system pressure.”

MLGW said 20 water main breaks have been fixed so far. Utility crews are working on seven more broken water mains.

MLGW is focused on water main breaks, residential leaks, commercial leaks and leaks involving fire protection systems given the impact they have on water pressure throughout the MLGW system, McGowen said.

“Correcting these conditions remains the substantial work ahead of us,” McGowen said.

Earlier on Monday, MLGW asked customers to cut back on all “non-essential” water use as the utility announced the start of an emergency water management plan. The water boil recommendation for all customers remains in effect, which caused numerous business, especially restaurants, to close on Monday.

As part of the restrictions on non-essential water use, MLGW also said that local car washes are being notified to cease operations until further notice.

The developments come as the utility continues to work to restore normal operation of water distribution in the Memphis area. MLGW on Monday estimated it would be four to five days before the water system was restored to normal.

In Monday night’s statement, McGowen said he would provide more specific information when he had it.

“I know that everyone wants to know when this will end,” he said in the statement. “I will simply say that from history, once we find and fix all the breaks/leaks, it will take a few days to balance the system, and then a few days to lift the boil water advisory.

“As soon as I have a good estimate, I will share it with you,” McGowen said.

MLGW will distribute bottled water again on Tuesday, December 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the following locations:

• Pleasant Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 4813 Benjestown Road
• Hickory Ridge Mall, 6075 Winchester Road

McGowen’s full statement follows:

To MLGW customers:

Overnight and all day today our team and contracted partners have continued to find and fix broken water mains, and to secure water for residential and commercial customers who have broken pipes that are causing leaks. So far, our team has repaired 20 water main breaks and are now working on another 7. Customer service technicians have secured water for 461 residential and commercial customers and are working on securing another 180 tonight. To date, our team has secured water at 24 commercial facilities because of broken Fire Protection (FP) or sprinkler pipes. Notably, these FP systems are designed to deliver very high volumes of water, and when they break, they cause dramatic drops in our system pressure. Taken together: water main breaks, residential and commercial leaks and Fire Protection system ruptures cause reduced pressures and no-water conditions for customers down-stream. Correcting these conditions remains the substantial work ahead of us.

For our commercial customers, fluctuating and low pressures will cause commercial restroom fixtures problems with proper operation. Generally, 40 psi is required for proper function of commercial flush valves. In several areas, we are not reliably delivering that pressure. A request for our business leaders: to the extent possible for office workers, on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, please allow the maximum opportunity for remote work so that we can avoid having significant plumbing function issues in your offices. Thanks for helping us in that way. For our residential customers, you can help by not dripping water in your homes when temperatures are above freezing.

Today, MLGW and our partners and volunteers gave out 1,600 cases of water to families who are experiencing “no-water” conditions. Tomorrow, December 27, we will again offer this service, from 10 a.m.-Noon (or until supplies are exhausted). Recipients will receive one case per car. Locations:

• Pleasant Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, 4813 Benjestown Rd
• Hickory Ridge Mall, 6075 Winchester Road.

This is a dynamic and still unfolding crisis with our water system borne of the very cold temperatures. As the weather warms, things will thaw out and there will undoubtedly be more leaks detected. I know that everyone wants to know when this will end. I will simply say that from history, once we find and fix all the breaks/leaks, it will take a few days to balance the system, and then a few days to lift the boil water advisory. As soon as I have a good estimate, I will share it with you. We appreciate your patience as our crews continue to make repairs and restore water service to customers.

Doug McGowen
MLGW, President & CEO