Leak spills millions of gallons of water in Nashville, causes low pressure

A leak likely spilled several million of gallons of water in Nashville, Metro Water Services Director Scott Potter announced during a Tuesday news briefing.

A failed joint was discovered in a 24-inch water line that crosses the Cumberland River. The city shut down that line Tuesday, which runs from East Nashville to Joelton, and diverted service for the area to another water plant in Donelson. Residents in East Nashville experienced low pressure for several hours Tuesday night. Service in the area returned to normal by Wednesday morning, according to MWS spokesperson Sonia Allman.

Crews were still working Wednesday on four other water main breaks and investigating several new potential breaks, which are tied to ongoing pressure issues and service interruptions, Allman said.

Normally, the city's system produces 90 million gallons of water in a day, according to Potter. It produced record-breaking amounts of 146 million gallons on Monday and 147 million gallons on Tuesday. Allman said they were not sure exactly how much water leaked from the 24-inch water main at the Cumberland River, but that multiple breaks have contributed to the ongoing massive water loss.

The city was still producing an abnormally high amount of water Wednesday, Allman said. While the water service's call center was inundated on Tuesday, calls had dropped off on Wednesday.

Allman also said the city's water reservoirs are at normal levels, but should be full or overflowing with the amount of water being pumped. That means there are likely unidentified breaks, possibly in remote or rural areas or in homes or businesses that are closed for the holidays.

Nashville has more than 3,000 miles of underground water mains that serve over 220,000 customers. Finding every leak and break will help return the system to normal, Potter said. He suggested people in rural areas of Davidson County walk their property and check for any unusual water and report issues.

Potter said he is not sure if the 24-inch water main break was due to the cold weather over the long holiday weekend, but that other damage to the city's water system is.

"Our water mains do not typically freeze and burst as they do in residential homes, but freezing weather can cause pipes to contract and expand, weakening pipe material," MWS said in a news release. "Additionally, water temperatures below 40 degrees can cause pipes to become more brittle."

Officials warn that more issues may be ahead

MWS is working alongside emergency contractors to repair several active breaks and is investigating more potential breaks. Still, the number of breaks is lower than expected, Potter said. He believes more will come as the ground thaws out, shifts and further stresses pipes.

"Our crews are working around the clock," Potter said.

A severe winter storm in February 2021 caused 132 water main breaks, and the water service expects about the same amount from this storm.

While MWS is working to fully repair and restore water, Potter emphasized the water system as a whole in Nashville is not at risk.

"This isn't a crisis," Potter said. "We're trying to be a little bit proactive."

Next week, a dive team will assess the extent of the damage to the 24-inch pipe that crosses the river, which was installed in 2012. MWS will decide how best to make the repair, which may mean laying new pipe. The line needs to be back in service by the spring when the demand for water increases, Potter said.

What to do if you have low water pressure or service interruptions in Nashville

Those with water service issues are asked to first check the MWS outage map to see if the issue is already being addressed. A link to the map and more information can be found at nashville.gov/departments/water.

Reach MWS by phone to report an issue at 615-862-4600. The department also posts frequent updates on Twitter @NashvilleMWS.

Some customers may be experiencing water issues tied to private plumbing, the department said. Those with burst pipes, backflow preventers, sprinkler systems or irrigation systems should turn off their water immediately with a private shutoff. The shutoff valve may be in a basement, under a kitchen sink, in a utility closet, near a hot water heater or even in a crawl space, MWS said.

"Allowing it to flow can cause extensive property damage and stress the water system," MWS said. "We encourage our customers to check on homes of neighbors and family members out of town and businesses closed for the holidays to ensure that they have not experienced a private plumbing issue."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: East Nashville water main break causes low pressure