Tennessee American Water advises 40,000 of lead, galvanized steel, ‘unknown’ materials in service lines | Chattanooga Times Free Press

About 40,000 customers of Tennessee's largest regulated water utility have received letters advising them of lead, galvanized steel or "unknown" materials in their service lines.

"At Tennessee American Water, providing safe, reliable and affordable water service is our top priority," the company said in the message. "We're reaching out to you because our records indicate a portion or all of the water service line serving the property listed below is made of lead or galvanized steel or your service line material is 'unknown.'"

Daphne Kirksey, a spokesperson for Tennessee American Water, said the mandated notice went out to customers last week in accordance with new lead line regulations issued by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The company mailed 40,000 letters to customers in its service territory, which includes Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie counties, Kirksey said in an email.

"Tennessee American Water tests for lead in accordance with regulatory requirements," the letter states. "The results of these tests indicate the water meets drinking water standards related to lead."

(READ MORE: Water samples taken from DuPont Elementary in Chattanooga test extremely high for lead)

The utility also takes steps to reduce the potential of lead leaching from service lines and household plumbing by monitoring treatment processes and adding a corrosion inhibitor when needed, the company said.

The service line is a portion of the pipe that connects the water main to the building inlet. Tennessee American Water owns the portion of the line that runs from the water main to the meter, and the customer owns the portion that runs from the meter to their building.

According to the EPA, lead particles can attach to the surface of galvanized pipes, which can then end up in drinking water.

Lead is a common metal found in the environment, the company said in the letter. Although most lead exposure occurs from contaminated soil or when people eat paint chips and inhale dust, the EPA estimates 10-20% of human exposure can come from drinking water.

Homes built before 1988 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder, the letter said. New homes are also at risk, and even legally designated "lead-free" plumbing can contain up to 8% lead.

"The most common source is brass and chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures, which can leach a significant amount of lead into water, especially hot water," the company said in its message to customers.

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Citing the EPA, the letter states lead exposure can cause serious health effects in all ages. Infants and children who drink lead-containing water could experience decreases in their IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can also intensify learning and behavior problems. Adults who drink lead-containing water could see increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure or problems with their kidneys or nervous system.

RATES

In May, Tennessee American Water asked the state's utility commission for permission to raise rates by nearly $5 per month for the average Chattanooga resident, an effort that has drawn criticism from Mayor Tim Kelly. The utility would raise rates for city residents by 25% while lowering costs for its newest customers in rural areas, he said.

The 25% price hike would be on top of annual rate increases the utility has implemented annually over more than 11 years, Kelly said.

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"While increasing the rates for Chattanooga residents, Tennessee American would cut water bills for residents in Suck Creek by more than 30% and would cut water bills for the residents of multimillion dollar homes in Jasper Highlands by nearly 29%," Kelly told state regulators during a public hearing Oct. 28. "As the mayor of Chattanooga, I can't stand by and let it happen without protest. It makes no sense, and Tennessee American can't justify it."

Tennessee American Water expects the utility commission will rule on its request sometime in the first quarter of 2025. The company serves 420,000 people in Tennessee and has about 67,000 water meters in the Chattanooga area.

The company has said its request is driven by $173 million in water system improvements it has made since the last general rate increase in 2012 and through December 2025. It would allow the utility to continue to provide clean, safe and reliable service, Kirksey said.

"The request reinforces our commitment to investing in the water system to replace aging infrastructure, provide reliable service/fire protection, enhance water quality and comply with environmental regulations," Kirksey said in an email Oct. 28.

(READ MORE: Some cities are digging up water mains and leaving lead pipe in the ground)

NEXT STEPS

Tennessee American Water says it has a lead service line verification and replacement program. More information is available at tennesseeamwater.com/leadfacts. Tennessee American Water asks customers who are planning to replace their lead service line to contact the company at 866-736-6420 or email [email protected] beforehand to coordinate efforts with the company.

To reduce lead in drinking water, the EPA recommends people use certified filters, regularly clean the faucet's screen and use cold water. Residents should also flush their pipes by running the tap before drinking water. The more time water has been sitting in pipes, the agency said, the more lead it could contain.

Tennessee American Water also listed several laboratories that are approved by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to test water samples for a fee. Those are AIRL Inc. in Cleveland (423-476-7766), Eurofins Knoxville (865-291-3000) and Microbac in Maryville (865-977-1200).

In an email, Kirksey said Tennessee American Water regularly replaces company-owned service lines each year as part of its asset renewal program. The property owner is responsible for the maintenance, repair and replacement of the portion they own.

"Property owners may choose to replace their portion of the service line for various reasons, however, Tennessee American Water has proposed a plan to replace customer-owned lead service lines when replacing mains as part of its pending general rate case," Kirksey said.

Contact David Floyd at [email protected] or 423-757-6249.