New Raw Water Intake Location and Routing Finalized – Martin Mill Pike to Close for Utility Construction

After evaluation of several routes and means of installation, the City of Alcoa Public Works and Engineering Department and Maryville Water Quality Control Department announced today the location of a temporary raw water intake and the routing of a 24-inch ductile iron line to convey the water to the Alcoa Water Treatment Plant. The new intake will provide additional water at the plant for treatment and use by City of Alcoa and City of Maryville customers. The concept of a downstream intake was first conceived in 2000 as the two cities evaluated their long-term options to supply its water customers. Originally planned for construction around 2017, this temporary installation is the result of the drought that is gripping our area and the entire southeast U.S.

“Simon deVente (City of Alcoa Assistant Public Works Director / Chief Engineer) is to be commended for the hours and hours of work he has done to bring us to this point,” noted Kenny Wiggins, Engineering & Public Works Director. “He has coordinated the contacts with property owners, worked with suppliers and contractors on the installation of the pumps and lines, kept state and federal regulators informed of our progress, and secured a third-party engineer to verify our work. We would not be ready as quickly as we are without Simon’s tireless efforts.”

The temporary, auxiliary intake will be located west of Old Knoxville Highway upstream of the Williams Mill Road / Little River bridge. The pumps will discharge into a 24-inch ductile iron line that will be temporarily installed above ground and parallel to Old Knoxville Highway back toward the “Chip” Koella bridge crossing of Little River. There, the line will turn eastward and parallel Little River back to the Alcoa Water Treatment Plant where the water will be returned to the river upstream of the existing intake. Morgan Contracting, Inc. of Baker, FL will be installing the pumps and piping. Morgan was already in the area working with KUB and provided the best qualified bid for the work.

Morgan will begin delivering materials to the area as early as Friday, October 19. As work progresses along the river, it will be necessary to close Martin Mill Pike between The Old Knoxville Highway and Hollybrook Road. The road will be closed beginning at 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 23, 2007 and is expected to reopen by 8:00 p.m., Sunday, October 28, 2007. A detour will be posted rerouting traffic around the construction area to Self Hollow and Hollybrook Roads.

Residents and those traveling in the area are asked to be cautious of heavier than normal truck traffic in the Old Knoxville Highway and Martin Mill Pike areas. This construction project is part of the cooperative efforts of the cities of Maryville and Alcoa and is the first step in expanding the water resources available to both cities during drought emergencies. The location of the permanent intake structure will be finalized after the temporary pumps are installed.

The two cities will continue to monitor flows in Little River during and following the installation of these improvements. The current water use restrictions will remain in effect until sustained flows in the river are within the state-imposed limits in the cities’ permits.

The City of Alcoa and City of Maryville apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Questions should be directed to the City of Alcoa Public Works & Engineering office at 380-4800.