Germantown allows water usage for some residents
Germantown residents who live east of Forest Hill Irene may resume normal water consumption and usage. (Baudolino/Pixabay)
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City of Germantown officials announced an agreement to allow normal consumption and usage of water for some residents.
In cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, residents living east of Forest Hill-Irene Road may resume consumption and normal use of water from the City system effective Sunday, July 23, at 9 p.m. Some additional areas are also included.
The area highlighted in blue may resume normal consumption and usage of water after following EPA guidelines provided. (Courtesy The City of Germantown)
Water in the City of Germantown is fed by both the Southern Avenue and Johnson Road water treatment plants. The decision to partially lift the restriction was based on the knowledge of how water flows through the system and the absence of odor reports taken in the area.
Customers in the area east of Forest Hill-Irene Road must flush interior service lines to remove water standing in interior pipes.
Those in this area who have not detected the smell of diesel in their home should open all faucets, hot and cold, and allow them to run for five minutes. After this flushing of water service lines is complete, customers may resume normal water consumption.
Residents who have detected odor from the water in their home should follow a more extensive process provided by the Environmental Protection Agency:
Step 1: Open a couple of cold water taps and run for 15 minutes to clear the customer service line from main.
Step 2: Open each cold tap one at a time and run that for 5 min to clean that specific line. Begin nearest to where water enters the building and move toward the farthest tap. Repeat for the rest of the cold taps.
Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 by running hot water through the taps.
Step 4: Any dishes or clothing washed while the restriction was in place should be rewashed.
Step 5: Water-using devices may require additional cleaning steps in addition to flushing (e.g., discarding ice). Consult the device manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.
If residual odor is detected in the water after this process is complete, customers should contact CustomerService@Germantown-TN.
Alys Drake
Alys Drake is a Memphian born and raised in the Bluff City. A theater-lover, she has worked in a variety of communications roles over the years and is pleased to work in a place where all her Memphis trivia knowledge is put to good use.
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