Tennessee American to begin large valve replacement project

The Tennessee America Water Company plans to invest approximately $1 million to replace 23 large-diameter water valves in the Chattanooga service area over the next five months. 

“Making prudent investments in our local water infrastructure is a critical part of our mission to provide our customers with high-quality and reliable water service,” said Deron Allen, president of Tennessee American Water. “During the past 16 years, the company has invested more than $127 million in local water infrastructure improvements to ensure system reliability and meet increasing state and federal water-quality standards. These valve replacements will help improve water quality and system reliability, increase water pressure in our service areas and help maintain adequate water flows throughout our system.”

When Tennessee American Water replaces a large-diameter valve, customers located near the valve’s location can expect low water pressure, possible service disruptions and partial street closures until the company completes the work.

Tennessee American Water officials said that they will work as quickly as possible and on weekends so that the affected areas will have service restored quickly. Company officials also said that they will notify customers in advance about water disruptions and street closures so that they can plan accordingly.

"These large-diameter valves are critical to the ongoing operation of our water system and essential to controlling the flow of water in our system, so we can either bypass or isolate sections of the system to repair main breaks and perform ordinary maintenance," Allen said. 

Officials caution that after work is done and water is restored, customers may experience discolored water. They said customers should simply remove the aerator (screen) on the faucet(s) when this happens and run the water until it is clear. This is important to do before running the washing machine or dishwasher, officials said.

For additional information, the 24-hour customer service center can be contacted at 866-736-6420.

The valves scheduled for replacement are listed below. 

Phase I
—16-inch valve located on Orchard Knob Avenue, north of Anderson Avenue
— 24-inch valve located on Hickory Street, south of East 28th Street
—16-inch valve located on Woodward Avenue, north of Main Street
—30-inch valve located on Buckley Street, south of Union Avenue
—16-inch valve located on 13th Street at Cowart Street
—24-inch valve located on West 27th Street at Cowart Street
—16-inch valve located on White Oak Street, north of Memorial Drive
—16-inch valve located on Memorial Drive, north of Altamont Road
—16-inch valve located on Memorial, east of Lyndon Street
—30-inch valve located on Central Avenue, south of 50th Street
—20-inch valve located on Central Avenue, south of Workman Road
—24-inch valve located on East 38th Street, east of Central Avenue

• Phase II
• —16-inch valve located on Lake Avenue, west of McFarland Avenue
• —16-inch valve located on Lake Avenue, east of McFarland Avenue
• —20-inch valve located on Vine Street at Wiehl Street
• —16-inch valve located on Vine Street at Wiehl Street
• —24-inch valve located on East Fifth Street, east of Baldwin Street
• —20-inch valve located on Central Avenue at Pierce Street
• —20-inch valve located on East Fifth Street at Georgia Avenue
• —16-inch valve located on East Third Street, west of High Street
• —16-inch valve located on Vine Street at Houston Street
• —20-inch valve located on East Fifth Street at Houston Street

—20-inch valve located on Houston Street, east of Fifth Street