Water! NU Gives Update On Cocke County Water Service

An update on the water situation in Cocke County. Water service returned for many in the county on Wednesday. Michael Williford with Newport Utilities says that two pumps are currently working to pump water into a series of holding tanks. Two other pumps remain offline at this time, but Williford says they hope to have those pumps back working soon. The outer regions of the county may still not have water, but they should have water soon.

The water is still not safe to drink, so a boil order remains in effect. Make sure to boil the water for three minutes before drinking it, or using it for things like brushing your teeth or food preparation. Williford says that if your water is still cloudy, it may look like that for awhile. Fortunately, the water treatment facility is on a hill and did not get damaged from the flood waters. Newport Utilities continues to stress water conservation. There is a full list of FAQ’s on the Newport Utilities facebook page.

If you need drinking water, there are numerous locations in the county where you can go to get bottled water, including the main distribution hub at 613 West Broadway in Newport.