If you suddenly find yourself without water or with a significant decrease in pressure, the following are a few suggestions to help us determine what the problem might be:

• Check with neighbors or people in your area and find out if they are experiencing the same or similar problem.
• If no one else in the area is having similar problems, go to your water meter, open the lid and see if anything on the meter face is moving. If the big needle hand or the small triangle is moving this will indicate that water is going through your meter and you have a leak on your line. You will need to repair your line yourself or else call a plumber.
• If others in your area are experiencing a similar problem, contact our office and report the problem you are having. The numbers to call are:

Monday thru Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm – 931-684-1667

After Hours and Weekends & Holidays – 931-294-5117

*Note: If a service call is made by our crew and the leak is on the customer’s side of the meter, a $60.00 service charge will billed to the customer making the call.

1. At the time of sign up for water service by the Customer, The District will require the Customer to provide a Property Tax Card and Tax Map to insure they are eligible for water service as provided in the District’s Policy and Rules and Regulations.

2. Once the Customer has met the eligibility requirements for water service, they will be required to pay all necessary fees, complete a Water Service Contract and Cross-Connection Control Survey. This Survey will determine what requirements will be necessary for the Customer to comply with the District’s Cross-Connection Policy. A violation of the District’s Cross-Connection Policy includes having the District’s water supply connected to an auxiliary water supply (well) or anything potentially harmful that could backflow into the District’s water system. If this condition does exist or will exist in the future, the District requires proper back-flow prevention.

3. Once the Customer has completed all the necessary steps to sign up for water service, the District will provide the Customer with a blue stake with their name on one side and a Service Order number on the other side. The Customer will place this stake on their property line in a location that is mutually agreeable to both the Customer and the District.

4. When the District installs the water tap on the Customer’s property line, the water tap will be locked out until the following items have been installed on the Customers side of the water tap and an inspection performed by District personnel:

a. Cut-off device.
b. Pressure regulator device.
c. Acceptable service line materials. (See District Rules & Regulations)

5. The Customer shall be responsible for and bear the expense of installing and maintaining the above piping from the water tap to the Customer’s residence/business.

6. In addition to inspecting the above items, District personnel will inspect the Customers plumbing arrangements for any cross-connection problems/ violations. This inspection will be based upon the Cross-Connection Control Survey completed previously by the Customer and Customer Type as noted on the Customer’s Water Service Contract. Any cross-connection violation will require proper backflow prevention by the Customer.

7. Once the above items have been inspected and approved by District personnel, water service will be turned on to the Customer. The cut-off device inside the water tap is the property of the District. Only District personnel are authorized to operate this cut-off or anything located inside the meter box.

8. No service call fee will charged for the initial turn on/inspection, however, a service call fee will be charged for any subsequent requests for turn on/offs not to include termination of water service.

9. The District will begin charging the Customer for water service on the date the water tap is installed by the District. The District will charge at least a minimum bill per month per customer for the water service regardless of the amount of water used. (See District Rules & Regulations)

It is that time of year when the temperatures start to dip below freezing and we have a few pointers for you.

Freezing Weather Protection

Before the onset of cold weather, prevent freezing of water supply lines and pipes by:

Thawing Frozen Pipes

If you turn on a faucet during freezing weather and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. The following are tips to thaw a frozen pipe:

Future Freeze Protection

*Please be aware that letting faucets drip will increase your monthly water bill.

• Don’t over-water your lawn. Water every 3-5 days in summer and 10-14 days in winter.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean sidewalks.
• Run the dishwasher and washing machine when fully loaded.
• If you have a swimming pool, use a cover and you’ll save loss from evaporation by 90%.
• When hand washing dishes, don’t leave water running; use 2 basins – one for washing and one for rinsing.
• Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave instead of using running water.
• Limit your shower time to less than 15 minutes.
• Turn water off while brushing your teeth.

The odor that most people associate with the smell of natural gas is “ROTTEN EGGS”. That distinctive odor is the harmless chemical we add to natural gas so you can detect even the smallest amount which might escape. It smells bad…but that is good! Natural gas has no odor of it’s own. Everyone should be able to recognize our built-in safety signal.

If You Ever Smell This Odor…

Investigate!! If possible “follow your nose” to the source of the odor. It may be a pilot light on your water heater, or cook stove that has gone out. Or it may be a burner on the cook stove that is partially turned on….something that is easily and safely fixed. If you cannot find the source of the odor or if you continue to smell the odor call the gas department for assistance.

IF THE ODOR YOU SMELL IS RISING IN INTENSITY OR IT SEEMS TO BE EVERYWHERE…

OUTDOORS

Call the gas company immediately. Our phone number is 931-684-1667 week days from 8:00 am till 4:30 pm. Weekends and holidays call 931-294-5117.

INDOORS

Leave the premises immediately….Don’t pick up the phone or switch on or off anything….go to the nearest phone and call the gas company and give them your address. Do not go back into the premises until a service team has check for the source of the odor and proper steps taken to correct the problem.

Natural Gas is NOT Poisonous…

It does not contain carbon monoxide, the cause of so-called “Gas Poisoning.” However, when burning gas or any fuel, carbon monoxide can be produced by lack of air, improperly working appliances or poor flue conditions. As basic precaution be sure that flue connections and venting are always in perfect working order – unobstructed and properly fitted.

Gas is a Marvelous Servant…

Whether you use it for cooking, to heat water, dry clothes, heat your home, natural gas is a marvelous servant, especially when conserved and used properly. Gas is dependable Natural gas has a safety record that is outstanding. We work constantly to keep it that way.

The Bedford County Utility District began construction of its natural gas system in May, 2000. Actual transport and sale of natural gas by the District began on January 3, 2001. The District receives its natural gas through its gate station located on the East Tennessee Natural Gas Company corridor line to Shelbyville, Tennessee.  The District has approximately has in service approximately twenty eight (28) miles of natural gas pipeline operating in its system, one (1) gate station and two (2) regulator stations. The District is scheduled to bring on line by December, 2001 another eight (8) miles of pipeline. The District anticipates having approximately three hundred (300) residential customers and three (3) large commercial customer by the winter of 2001. These current facilities were funded by $1,000,000.00 and $2,000,000.00 revenue bonds through Rural Development, USDA.

The District has procured an additional $1,500,000.00 funding via Rural Development, USDA revenue bonds for extending natural gas service for the winter of 2002.

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