GERMANTOWN, Tenn. — A third section of Germantown, Tennessee, was allowed to resume drinking and using tap water Thursday, however, others remain under restrictions that have now been in effect for a week after it was discovered the water supply was contaminated with diesel fuel.
The nightmare began for the city, a suburb of Memphis, after residents began reporting a strong odor to their tap water on July 20. An investigation revealed that a generator being used to power the Southern Avenue water treatment facility -- due to a power outage -- was leaking diesel fuel into an underground reservoir.
Residents have been told to only use tap water for toilet flushing. The city also said that boiling water does not make it safe for use. The water was treated last Friday and the reservoirs were refilled by midday. The city then pumped water into the elevated tower to address any residue remaining in the system and samples were sent out for testing, according to the city.
Aside from the leak, additional contamination was found deeper in the soil immediately surrounding a pipe that was carrying clean water from the treatment plant into the underground reservoir, Public Works Director Bo Mills said in a recorded message to city residents on Tuesday. Customers whose tap water restrictions have been lifted are instructed to flush out their interior service lines to remove water that was standing in interior pipes.
Any dishes or clothing washed while the restriction was in place should be rewashed. To flush water heaters, residents should fill a bathtub and drain it twice, according to the city.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Water restriction partially lifted in Memphis suburb after diesel leak contaminates treatment facilitySome Germantown, Tennessee, residents are still under a no tap water order after a power generator at a water treatment facility leaked diesel fuel into a reservoir.
Read more »
Op-ed: Fix for the Chicago-Joliet water deal: Give recycled water to industryCommentary: The Chicago-Joliet water deal is a solid solution, but we should amend it to help all communities affected by the collapsing aquifer.
Read more »
Cave Creek water pump repaired after incident sparks water conservation requestCAVE CREEK RESIDENTS: Officials are asking residents to conserve water until repairs can be made to a damaged town water pipeline connected to the Central Arizona Project.
Read more »
After Tyre Nichols' death, DOJ investigating possible 'discriminatory policing' in MemphisMEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Department of Justice is investigating whether law enforcement in Memphis, Tennessee, engaged in 'discriminatory policing,' including in how it conducted traffic stops, in the wake of the death of Tyre Nichols earlier this year, officials said Thursday.
Read more »
Tennessee residents say their water still smells like diesel after spill, even though officials say it's safeOfficials in Germantown told residents on Thursday that they could start using the tap water again, but around 150 to 300 homes still report lingering odors.
Read more »