The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a standard for minimum water flow from a fire hydrant. By painting the hydrants in the 4 official colors, any firefighter can predict the amount of water flow in gallons per minute (GPM) they can expect to receive from the hydrant.

Utility districts were created to provide a reliable source of potable water, not for fire protection. Unfortunately, utility districts cannot provide fire protection to all customers due to low pressure areas. Fire protection is a service that came along later in areas with sufficient pressures and when economically feasible to provide the service.

GET THE LEAD OUT

There is nothing more important to South Blount Utility than providing our customers with safe, reliable, affordable water.

As part of this mission, we want to help keep your household safe from lead. While we treat and test water to make sure that it is lead-free when it leaves the treatment facility and travels through the water mains, some older homes in our community may have lead in the service lines, household plumbing materials, and faucets.



Lead is a powerful toxin that is harmful to human health. Infants, young children, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of lead because it accumulates in the body. Wherever possible, households should seek to reduce and eliminate lead exposure. You can refer to the EPA website for current safe levels of lead, https://www.epa.gov/.

Lead can slowly dissolve in the water or break off into tiny particles. To protect our customers, South Blount Utility monitors and adjusts the water’s chemistry to prevent corrosion that may result in lead at the tap. We also sample water for lead at high-risk homes in the community. If no part of your service line or plumbing contains lead, your household is likely not at risk. However, the only way to be certain is to have your water tested by a certified laboratory or your utility and to inspect — with the help of a licensed plumber — your household plumbing for lead components.

If you do find that your household plumbing is contributing lead to your drinking water, there are several steps you should take to reduce exposure. For instance, if water has not been used for several hours, run the tap to ensure you are getting fresh water from the main. Use only cold water for drinking and cooking, and clean faucet aerators regularly to ensure they are free of lead particles. Finally, if your water has elevated levels of lead, consider purchasing a home filter certified to remove lead. Find out more on filter certification at www.nsf.org. Ultimately, the best way to protect your household is by removing all potential sources of lead.

More information about testing options and other steps you can take to reduce lead exposure is available at our website, www.southblountutility.org. You can also get this information by calling our Customer Service department (865) 982-3560.

Help us eliminate this threat to your drinking water. Together, let’s get the lead out.

We are currently in the process of updating our Utility Management System to CUSI. We are expecting to begin transitioning to CUSI in January 2024. This new system will have benefits for both customers and utility employees. Customers who have multiple addresses with us will be able to receive a single invoice for all of the addresses. Payments made online will post to customer's accounts immediately, rather than delayed as with the current manual process. This will help avoid receiving emails stating a payment is due even when it has been paid. Stay tuned for more updates on this transition as we work diligently to make the transition as seamless as possible.

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 FY24 or FY25. 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: Easement procurement is approximately 98% complete and is expected to bid in February 2024.

Previous Status: This project is funded with American Rescue Plan Act funding by Blount County.

WELCOME TO THE TEAM!!!

In December we welcomed two new employees to the South Blount Utility family!

Tyler Blair (left) and Caleb Gregory (right) will be working with our distribution team.

Welcome to the team!

Directions:

1. Float an ice cube in the bowl of cold water.
2. Lay one end of the string over the ice cube and the other end over the rim of the bowl.
3. Sprinkle some salt over the ice cube.
4. Wait about two or three minutes and then lift the piece of string.
5. The string should have frozen to the ice cube.

How Does the Experiment Work?

The salt will cause the ice to melt and will allow the string to fall down through the ice. The fresh water will creep into the crevice created by the string and refreeze. Once the water refreezes around the string, you will be able to easily lift the ice cube from the water. You can also try this experiment with different types of salt like Epsom salts or rock salt. Try different types of string or try using wire.

https://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/catch-an-ice-cube-water-science-experiment/