MEMPHIS, Tenn — The City of Germantown said Monday afternoon that some residents should continue only using tap water for flushing toilets, after a fuel leak during a recent power outage.
Water customers east of Forest Hill Irene Road were able to resume consumption and normal use of water as of 9 p.m. Sunday night. An interactive map that identifies the specific area (in blue) is available here.
Germantown leaders said Monday that areas close to reservoir continue to show traces of diesel.
The City is also asking customers who still detect an odor in their water to notify CustomerService@Germantown-TN.gov or call (901) 757-7200.
The City of Germantown reviewed results with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) throughout the weekend. Officials from the city stated that TDEC requested additional testing to be performed before making a decision regarding the remainder of the community.
Some samples previously submitted for testing still came back with trace amounts of diesel on Saturday night, according to the City of Germantown.
The first round of water sample testing was delayed by an overnight power outage Friday night at the MLGW testing lab, the City of Germantown said on Saturday morning.
Early Saturday morning, crews pulled 15 samples that were strategically located around each of the locations where an odor in the water was reported, the City of Germantown said. Tests underway would detect any traces of diesel fuel in the samples, according to the City of Germantown.
Earlier in the week, city leaders said crews worked overnight and public works was in the process of flushing the system.
TDEC will have to sign off before the water restrictions are lifted.
On Saturday, mayor of Germantown Mike Palazzolo appeared in a video posted to social media by the city.
"We are working diligently and our operations committee has met a half dozen times to continue to provide updates," he said. "Each milestone — whether it’s testing or remediation and other measures that will come soon, we’ll get that communication out to the community."
He stressed for citizens to staying in tune to Germantown's social media platforms as well as to sign up for Germantown alerts.
City officials said they received reports of a strong odor from the city’s tap water Thursday morning (July 20, 2023) and began investigating a cause. They said about 2:45 p.m., they found that during the current power outage, a generator being used to power the Southern Avenue water treatment facility was leaking diesel fuel into an underground reservoir.
Officials said some Germantown residents and their pets should still not eat, drink or wash using the tap water.
The city is working to provide bottled water to those who are in critical need. Information on a point of distribution will be provided as soon as confirmed.
Peace Tree UMC on 9315 E Shelby Drive is offering a hospitality room and showers from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coffee, Wi-Fi, ice and water refills are also being offered at this location. Those who want more information from them can call (901) 286-5532
Bottled water will be distributed to Germantown residents Monday, July 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Forest Hill Elementary located at 3368 Forest Hill Irene Rd.
Bottled water cases are limited to one case per car.
Germantown residents can also bring their own containers and fill the containers with an unlimited amount of water of clean water at Bailey Station Elementary located at 3435 Bailey Station Rd. from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Residents can sign up to receive Germantown Alert text notices by texting "Alert" to 901-979-9955 or visiting Germantown-TN.gov/alert.