Preparing for Tomorrow
A Quarterly Publication From Your Water Service Provider
WINTER 2023
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DON'T FORGET TO PROTECT YOUR PIPES!
As Winter weather moves in, it is important to take measures to protect your plumbing against freezing temperatures. The following tips could help prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
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Inside This Issue
Protect Your Pipes
Lead & Copper Testing
Living Waters for the World
Coats For Our Community
Blount County Community Action Agency
District Projects
Birthdays
CDL Recognition
Stay Connected!
Kid's Corner
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- When freezing weather is in the forecast, turn off the water to outside spigots and drain all water from the line.
- Cover outdoor spigots with an insulated faucet cover.
- Drain in-ground lawn irrigation systems. (Check the manufacturer instructions for the best method.)
- Report broken or missing meter box lids to South Blount County Utility District to help prevent frozen meters.
- Seal any air drafts around fixtures.
- Insulate pipes in unheated areas. Heat tape could also be used to wrap pipes.
- Drip hot and cold water in the kitchen and bathroom sinks during freezing temperatures to keep water flowing.
- Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow heat to get to the pipes.
- Set the thermostat to no less than 55 degrees Fahrenheit or simply shut off the main valve to protect pipes during extended absences from the home in the winter.
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LEAD AND COPPER TESTING FOR COUNTY SCHOOLS |
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South Blount County Utility District (SBCUD) has partnered with the Blount County School System to ensure the quality of potable water that is delivered to its students.
SBCUD will test for Lead and Copper annually at each school. The water samples will be drawn from water fountains and the utility’s water main entry point near the building. This testing exceeds the latest EPA requirement of 20% of elementary schools.
Testing results will be available, going forward, on our website. If you have questions regarding lead and copper, please contact us at 865-982-3560.
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South Blount County Utility District is a drop off point for Coats For Our Community sponsored by Blount County Fire Protection District. We have a bin located in our lobby at, 320 Partnership Pkwy, to collect new and gently used coats for families in need. Families in need of a coat can shop for one at the BCFD Station 7 at, 5156 Sevierville Rd, on Saturday's from 9AM - 3PM. For more information, please visit BCFD's website using the following link: https://www.blountfire.org/coats-for-our-community.html
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Are you in need of assistance with your utility bills?
Blount County Community Action Agency has a low-income household water assistance program (LIHWAP) that South Blount County Utility District and other utilities have decided to participate in.
The LIHWAP water assistance program offers relief to individuals that are in danger of water interruption due to non-payment. The state uses LIHWAP funds to help our customers prevent interruption of water services. Administering agencies use a point system to determine a households' benefit level and priority assistance. The point system looks at homes that have a member of a vulnerable population, poverty level, and water burden. Those with the highest number of points receive priority.
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The following will receive priority assistance:
People with disabilities
Families with young children
Older adult/seniors
Military veterans
Households with high water burdens.
Visit Blount County Community Action Agency's website for further information,
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As part of our ongoing effort to meet development trends and prepare for the future, SBCUD is planning to replace aging infrastructure with new infrastructure that will ensure we are positioned to meet those demands for future generations. To learn more and stay informed on our projects, visit the Projects Page of our website . |
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LOUISVILLE TRANSMISSION WATER MAIN PROJECT |
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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. Project alignment has been determined and engineering is approximately 40% complete. SBCUD will be updating customers as this project progresses. This project is solely funded with SBCUD operating reserves.
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BLACK FOREST DRIVE PROJECT |
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Project Location: This project will begin at the intersection of Bolinger Road and Black Forest Drive and follow the entire circle of Black Forest Drive.
Project Description: Black Forest Drive was identified as a priority project. This new 6-inch water main project replaces the outdated 4-inch water main. The new water main will be located on the same side as the existing water main. All construction will be open cut trenches. SBCUD will maintain ingress and egress to all property owners. During construction hours, there will be some slight delays at the construction site. All lanes will remain open in the evenings and night hours. All properties and driveways will be restored back to their original or improved conditions.
Project Status: This project is approximately 60% complete and expected to be completed in early spring.
Previous Status: This project will be self-performed by SBCUD employees with construction projected to begin in October - November 2022 and completion in 2023.
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BLOCKHOUSE PHASE III (CHILHOWEE VIEW ROAD PROJECT) |
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Project Description: The scope of the water line improvements on Chilhowee View Rd includes replacement of approximately 10,000 linear feet of 4 & 6-inch water lines with 12-inch water lines that improve fire flows, pressures, and overall system hydraulics. This project will also include replacement of 4-inch water lines with 8-inch lines between Autumn Drive and Sims Road on Hwy 321.
Project Status: Easements for this project were procured in 2021 and 2022. This project will bid January - March 2023 and will be funded with American Rescue Plan Act funding by Blount County.
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BLOCKHOUSE PHASE IV (WHITES MILL ROAD AND TUCKALEECHEE PIKE) |
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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: With the engineering of this project complete, SBCUD will be notifying all property owners in the January - February 2023 timeline with the project alignment and easement procurement where needed. This project is funded with American Rescue Plan Act funding by Blount County.
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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.
Project Status: This project will be solely funded with SBCUD operating reserves.
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SMOKEY ROAD & OLD HWY 72 WATER MAIN |
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Project Location: As part of our ongoing improvements, South Blount County Utility District (SBCUD) has identified Smokey Road and Old Hwy 72 as a future project to provide safe and reliable potable water to the residents of the area.
Project Description: All construction will be open cut trenches performed in the County right-of-way by SBCUD employees. SBCUD will maintain ingress and egress to all property owners. During construction hours, there will be some slight delays at the construction site. All properties and driveways will be restored back to their original, or improved, condition.
Project Status: Construction on this project is scheduled to begin in April - May 2023. This project will be solely funded by SBCUD.
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JANUARY 31
FEBRUARY 1
FEBRUARY 10
MARCH 8
MARCH 13
MARCH 17
MARCH 28
MARCH 28
MARCH 29
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ELI WILSON
DUSTIN BROWN
BILLY LONG
CHRIS PAYNE
CHELSEA HARRIS
LUCAS WATERS
JOHN MYERS
MIKEY RUSSELL
QUENTIN CALDWELL
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Congratulations to three of our construction crew members for earning their CDLs! South Blount Utility is proud of each of you for this accomplishment!
Pictured Left to Right: Justin Denman, Travis Teffeteller, and Eli Wilson
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Stay connected by checking out our calendar of events, updated regularly on our website. Click on the calendar above to be directed to our online calendar. Also, keep up with current events by following us on Instagram and Facebook. Visit our YouTube page for helpful videos.
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KID'S CORNER
Cool Facts & Fun Experiments
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Most freshwater is in ice.
Just 3.5 percent of Earth’s water is fresh—that is, with few salts in it. You can find Earth’s freshwater in our lakes, rivers, and streams, but don’t forget groundwater and glaciers. Over 68 percent of Earth’s freshwater is locked up in ice and glaciers. Another 30 percent is in groundwater.
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It’s really great that ice floats.
Usually when solids form, atoms get closer together to form something denser. This is why most solids sink in water. But solid water, or ice, is actually less dense. This is unusual. The water molecules form rings when water freezes. All that space makes ice less dense. This is why it floats. This is great because ice floating on top of a body of water lets the rest of it stay liquid. If ice sank, whole oceans could freeze solid!
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What is the difference in an Iceberg and a Glacier?
Icebergs are large chunks of ice that break off from glaciers. This process is called calving. Icebergs float in the ocean but are made of frozen freshwater, not saltwater.
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HOW DO PENGUINS STAY DRY?
Penguin STEM Experiment
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Things You need:
Directions:
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Color the penguin completely with a thick coating using the crayons.
- Fill a spray bottle with water.
- Add 2-3 drops of blue food coloring to the water. (optional)
- Spray the water onto the colored penguin.
- Observe the water repel off the penguin.
After your students observe the results of the Penguin Science Experiment, discuss with them how the wax from the crayon prevents the water from absorbing into the paper like how the wax on a penguin's feathers repels the water and helps keep the penguin warm and dry.
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