The Water Quality Technology program at Pellissippi State is not just an educational opportunity; it is a gateway to a fulfilling and impactful career dedicated to ensuring that communities have access to clean and safe water—a resource that is vital for life. Area utility companies assisted professionals with Pellissippi State in designing a Water Quality Technology program to ensure that it covers essential information that allows students to obtain the knowledge necessary to prepare for state-level certification.  If you are a STEM student with a passion for chemistry, biology, math, and a commitment to environmental stewardship, this one of a kind program aligns perfectly with your aspirations. Students who go through this program will get hands on experience while visiting multiple water treatment plant sites and utility districts. These site visits allow students an opportunity to connect with professionals in the industry and prospective employers. The demand for skilled professionals in this area is so high that the majority of students in this program have received job offers even before graduation. We recently welcomed one of these students here at South Blount Utility. Bryce Lechman joined our water treatment plant team in May of 2024. To find out more about this program visit Pellissippi State Community College's website.

Time to Winterize

The best method of determining whether or not a leak exists is to take an actual water meter reading. This method checks the internal plumbing system for water leaks. Take a water meter reading just before going to bed, or when no one will use any water for several hours. Take another meter reading in the morning before any water is used, or after a few hours of non-usage. In theory, the two readings should be the same. If they are not, and you cannot account for use by a humidifier, ice cube maker, toilet flush, or water softener, you have a leak and further investigation is recommended.

Follow these easy steps to investigate if you may have an "invisible leak."

• Now that you have done a meter reading and you suspect a water leak somewhere in your system that you can’t see, begin by checking all your faucets for visible leaks.
• Next, check the toilets for leaks by adding food coloring to the water in the tank. Do not flush. Wait for 15 minutes to see if the colored water appears in the toilet bowl. If it does, there is a leak. Repairing a toilet leak is normally inexpensive and easy to do. Replacement part kits are available at most hardware stores.
• If there appears to be no leaks inside your home, and the meter is located outside, check for underground leaks. Turn off your main valve inside, then turn on a faucet to verify the valve is working. The water flow should stop completely.
• Go back outside to the meter to see if it continues to run with the main valve off. If it does, there is a leak somewhere in your plumbing between the meter and the valve. After making repairs, repeat the meter reading procedure to verify that there are no more leaks.

You can also visit our YouTube page for information on how to check different areas for leaks. Here is a video that helps explain how to read your meter and determine if you could have a leak.

Project Description: The Louisville Transmission water main is perhaps one of the larger water main projects in the history of SBCUD. This 35,000 linear feet project replaces assets that are up to 60 years old and will provide the needed system hydraulics for the future of the county. Phase I of this project will begin behind Newell on William Blount Drive. It will follow Big Springs Road to Old Glory and end at the intersection of W Hunt Road and Proffitt Springs. This project is solely funded with SBCUD operating reserves.

Project Status: Engineering is 100% complete. This project is expected to bid in late FY26. SBCUD will be updating customers as this project progresses.

Project Description: The scope of the water line improvement on Whites Mill Road and Tuckaleechee Pike includes replacement of 14,800 linear feet of 6-inch water lines with 12-inch water lines that improve fire flows, pressures, and overall system hydraulics. This project starts at the end of Blockhouse Phase III (Chilhowee View Road and Whites Mill Road) and ends at Autumn Drive on Hwy 321.

Project Status: Construction is approximately 80% complete. This project is funded with American Rescue Plan Act funding by Blount County.

Project Location: South Blount County Utility District's (SBCUD) Water Treatment Plant.

Project Description: SBCUD has partnered with W.K. Dickson to engineer an additional 1 million gallon clear well water tank for the SBCUD Water Treatment Plant. This additional clear well will provide SBCUD's water plant the needed redundancy for the future growth of Blount County. This project will be solely funded with SBCUD operating reserves.

Project Status: Construction performed by Southern Constructors is underway on this project with completion expected in April 2025.

Directions:

Step 1: Put out all six glasses. Pour one cup of water into each.

Step 2: Add a few drops of food coloring into each glass. We suggest using red, yellow, blue and green. Ask the kids to help you mix it in!

Step 3: Use your measuring teaspoon to administer different amounts of sugar to each glass. Record the amount you add to each.

Step 4: Stir until the sugar has dissolved.

Step 5: Use your baster to transfer the different colors of water into a jar. Begin by squeezing the device and putting it into the cup with red water. Release a little of the pressure to suck up some of the liquid. Keeping it pressed, and transfer it to your next cup. Release a little more pressure to suck up some of the liquid. Repeat this step for all remaining glasses. Make sure to leave enough pressure in the baster to get through all six colors.

Step 6: Watch in awe as different colors settle into different areas of the jar. Use this as an opportunity to discuss water density. Explain to the kids that the more sugar each color contains, the higher density of the mixture.

https://www.greatwolf.com/blog/science-experiments-with-water/