The City of Alcoa and City of Maryville today announced the completion of the temporary raw water intake pipeline on the Little River. With tests on the waterline and pumps completed, pumping operations began this morning. Water is now flowing through the waterline and into Little River on the opposite bank from Alcoa’s existing raw water intake structure. This is a temporary solution designed to help alleviate the lack of flow in the Little River drainage basin caused by the recent drought.

The new intake structure is a temporary floating device placed in a deep pool near the Rockford dam on the Little River. The new raw water transmission pipeline was laid on top of the ground for expediency of construction. Once the flows in the Little River are stabilized to sustainable levels, the new pipeline will be taken out of service and buried in place for a more permanent installation. Following that, evaluation will begin on a permanent intake structure.

While water flow downstream of the Alcoa intake increased approximately 13 cubic feet per second and out of the range requiring water use restrictions, Alcoa and Maryville water customers are reminded that the drought continues. Overall, the river flow has been dropping and probably will continue to drop until the next rainfall and none is in the forecast for at least the next 7 days. Efforts made by citizens and businesses who consume water from both utilities are greatly appreciated, but due to the continuing conditions, customers of both utilities are asked to continue practicing water conservation measures to help avoid the reinstatement of water restrictions and to reduce the water demands on Little River and its ecosystem. At this time neither City is mandating any further measures, however, both constantly evaluate the steps taken based on river flow, rainfall, and demand.

Alcoa City Manager Mark Johnson expressed his appreciation to all involved in the project by saying, “This project could not have been completed so quickly without the joint cooperation of the engineering staffs of the Cities of Alcoa and Maryville. These groups worked together flawlessly to get the job done. We also owe a debt of gratitude to: the regulatory agencies who worked closely with the Cities to obtain the necessary permits, the Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Tennessee Valley Authority; Fulghum, MacIndoe, & Associates; Morgan Contracting; and the various land owners over which the water line lies.”