A diesel fuel spill that contaminated the water supply system of Germantown, Tennessee, has left residents unable to drink their tap water as the city’s public works crew rush to flush out the contaminated water.
The city first told residents on 20 July that a spill at a treatment plant tainted the water supply system. The order came after residents reported a fuel smell in their water. Officials said that a generator at the plant spilled diesel fuel into a reservoir after the facility lost power during recent storms.
They noted that 100 gallons of diesel contaminated about 4.2m gallons of water held at the plant.
On Wednesday, many of the 40,000 people in the Memphis suburb of Germantown remained under an order to avoid using water for everything except flushing toilets. Officials advised using bottled water for personal use and the city has been distributing bottled water.
Bottled water distribution will carry on until Friday. Cases are limited to one per car, ABC24 reports. Residents can also bring their own containers and fill them at Bailey Station elementary school.
It was not immediately clear when the tap water would be deemed safe for use. Spokesperson Eric Ward said in an email on Wednesday that the Tennessee department of environment and conservation needs water samples to come back clear of diesel before the advisory is lifted.
A small section of Germantown has been allowed to resume using water. The Daily Memphian reports that residents east of Forest Hill-Irene and residents in the Enclave and Lansdowne subdivisions have started to use water normally again.
There have been no reports from officials about people getting sick.
On Tuesday evening, officials said tests at the plant showed water there was clear of contamination and the city would continue testing the water and begin flushing its system. The announcement was framed by officials as good news – but it was not enough to lift the order.
“We know this situation has been an incredible inconvenience, disrupting the everyday lives of our families and businesses. And we apologize for that,” Germantown’s mayor, Mike Palazzolo, said in a video message on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Daily Memphian reported that the city had flushed 40% of its contaminated waters. It remains unclear when the majority of the town’s residents will have access to clean water, the outlet reports.
Michael Wyrick, a 39-year-old accountant who lives with his wife and two daughters in Germantown, said living without tap water “has been an adjustment for sure”.
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“You don’t realize how much water you use each day until you are constantly pouring it out of water bottles,” Wyrick said via email. “Not being able to bathe or shower has been challenging, especially with two young children.”
Another resident, Jim Horton, told WREG that he had been stocking up on basic necessities that do not need to be washed such as plates and cups. He added that there’s been a lack of communication from city officials since the spill.
“They could’ve used some good advice on communications. They’ve not been aggressive, they’ve not been outgoing about it and maybe there’s reasons they can’t and legal issues … I understand all that but waiting 10, 12, 14 hours between communication?” he said.
The Peace Tree United Methodist church in neighboring Collierville has offered hospitality rooms and showers to Germantown residents.
“As our neighbors in Germantown continue to experience water restrictions, we want to make our facilities available to anyone needing to restock their coolers with ice and refill their water containers with potable water,” the church wrote on its Instagram page.