Tennessee American Water is asking customers who reside in Whitwell and Powells Crossroads to assist the water utility by self-identifying and reporting the material of the portion of pipe that connects the water meter to customer homes or businesses.
This effort supports the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which requires all water utilities to identify and make public the materials that both company-owned and customer-owned service lines are made of to address and minimize exposure of lead in drinking water.
“Tennessee American Water continues to meet and surpass all local and federal drinking water standards,” said Lori Stenzel, Manager of Water Quality and Environmental Compliance for Tennessee American Water. “This lead service line survey and self-identification process helps ensure transparency and supports our ongoing commitment to providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable water service.”
Tennessee American Water does not install or maintain customer-owned service lines, so customer participation is essential. The company does not anticipate the discovery of lead service lines in Whitwell and Powells Crossroads. However, completion of the inventory is still an important step in meeting the new requirements.
Customers can check their service line material by visiting the interactive map at tennesseeamwater.com/leadfacts. If the customer-owned portion of the service line is listed as “unknown,” the website includes step-by-step instructions for determining and reporting the material. A companion video on the company’s YouTube channel also provides a visual guide on how to report the material.
“Our goal is to proactively share information with customers about their service lines and the steps we take every day to meet regulatory requirements,” Stenzel added.
Tennessee American Water began building its service line inventory in 2024 and remains committed to proactive communication and regulatory compliance. This survey and self-identification effort aligns with statewide initiatives supported by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
