Water restrictions lifted for some Germantown residents: What to know

As a water crisis ended its fourth day, the city of Germantown and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation late Sunday "reached an agreement to allow water customers east of Forest Hill Irene Road to resume consumption and normal use of water" from the city system effective at 9 p.m. on July 23.

The city said some additional areas are also included. An interactive map, identifying the specific area in blue, is available at Germantown-TN.gov/WaterRestorationMap.

Germantown said TDEC has requested that additional testing be performed before making a decision about the rest of the city. The additional testing was underway as of Sunday. The city advised that customers outside the area where the restriction has been lifted should wait until their area is released "to complete any flushing."

What to do if your water restrictions have been lifted

In a statement, Germantown said: "Customers in the area east of Forest Hill-Irene Road must flush interior service lines to remove water that has been standing in interior pipes. Those in this area who have not detected the smell of diesel in their home may simply open all faucets, hot and cold, and allow them to run for five minutes. After this flushing of water service lines is complete, customers may resume their normal water consumption."

The city added that residents who have detected odor from the water in their home should follow a more extensive process outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency. That process is outlined here:

• Step 1: Open a couple of cold water taps and run for 15 minutes to clear the customer service line from the main.

• Step 2: Open each cold tap one at a time and run that for 5 min to clean that specific line. Begin nearest to where water enters the building and move toward the farthest tap. Repeat for the rest of the cold taps.

• Step 3: Repeat steps 1 and 2 by running hot water through the taps.

• Step 4: Any dishes or clothing washed while the restriction was in place should be rewashed.

• Step 5: Water-using devices may require additional cleaning steps in addition to flushing (e.g., discarding ice). Consult the device manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.

The city said that if residents detect a residual odor in the water after this more extensive flushing process is complete, customers should contact customer service at CustomerService@Germantown-TN.gov or (901) 757-7200.

More: Germantown stores and residents still without water; no update on when water will be safe

Why did city decide to partially lift the restriction?

The city added in a statement: "While the entire Germantown water system is fed by both the Southern Avenue and Johnson Road water treatment plants, the decision to partially lift the restriction was based on the knowledge of how water flows through the system and the absence of odor reports taken in the area."

On Thursday, Germantown first advised residents not to consume the city's tap water. After a few residents reported their tap water had a strong odor, Germantown’s water department staffers determined a generator — which was powering the Southern Avenue water treatment facility during the current power outage — had been leaking diesel fuel into an underground reservoir.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris declared a local state of emergency Monday due to the July 18 storms, which caused over 130,000 Memphis Light, Gas and Water customers to lose power. The storm caused the water treatment plant to lose power, and a generator was used to power the Southern Avenue water treatment facility.

During a news briefing Thursday evening, officials said that, at worst, 100 gallons of diesel fuel had leaked into the underground reservoir, which contains about 4.2 million gallons of water.

The Germantown Fire Department on Thursday deployed a hazardous materials response team to the plant, the city said. The leak was stopped and TDEC was called in to ensure the response met its standards.

According to the city, crews drained the affected reservoirs to a level that allowed a safe neutralizing agent to be applied early Friday morning. By midday Friday, reservoirs were refilled and water was pumped into the elevated tower to address any residue in the system.

Work was conducted with oversight from TDEC and Shelby County Emergency Management Agency. Initial samples were sent to a local lab, and the Shelby County Health Department is independently testing samples.

Is Germantown water safe to drink?

The answer to that question is different based on where you live. Sunday night, the city of Germantown and the TDEC said water is safe for residents who live east of Forest Hill Irene Road and in several other areas.

Not all residents have received the "all clear." As of Monday morning, it was not clear when the water restriction will be lifted for all residents, according to Stacey Crockett, chief communications officer for the city of Germantown. Residents who are cleared to use their water should clear their water lines before use.

Residents currently living in areas that have not been given the "all clear" should only use water for flushing toilets.

Can I take a shower in Germantown with the current water quality alert?

If you live in the areas determined by the city of Germantown and TDEC where water is now safe to use, you must clear the system before returning to normal use.

For areas that are currently not in all clear zones, using water should only be used for flushing toilets.

Can I wash my dishes in the sink or dishwasher?

Germantown residents who do not live east of Forest Hill Irene Road, or in the few other designated areas, are still advised to only use water to flush their toilets. Dishes and clothing washed in areas where the restriction has not been lifted will need to be rewashed before use.

Those who live in areas where the restriction has been lifted need to flush their water lines before use. The city also advises those who have not been given the all-clear to not flush their lines yet.

"It does no good for residents to complete flushing prior to the restriction being lifted for their area. We want to be sure that the water used to flush pipes is clean," Crockett said in an email.

Where can I get bottled water?

Monday, bottled water (one case per car) will be available at Forest Hill Elementary, 3368 Forest Hill Irene Rd., from 4 to 7 p.m.

Residents can also bring their own containers to fill at Bailey Station Elementary, 3435 Bailey Station Rd. in Collierville from 4 to 7 p.m.

Where does Germantown its water from?

The Germantown water system pulls water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer and uses two water treatment facilities, the Southern Avenue and Johnson Road water treatment plants, to treat the water.

The entire Germantown water system is treated by both the Southern Avenue and Johnson Road Water treatment plants. The decision to partially lift the restriction was made based on the knowledge of how water flows through the system in addition to the absence of reported odor in the area, according to the city.

The city also urges residents to sign up to receive text notifications from the Germantown alert system. To opt in, visit Germantown-TN.gov/alert or text “alert” to 901-979-9955. Those who register via text must be sure to complete the registration process by clicking the link in the text reply.

Brooke Muckerman covers county government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Brooke.Muckerman@CommercialAppeal.com and followed on Twitter @BrookeMuckerma

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Germantown water contamination crisis: Here's what to know