Page 11 - Vol34No7 MarchApril2017

Weather Service still officially states that Emergency WTP at Fall Creek Falls State Park Marina
the area is experiencing Severe Drought,
the water supply emergency for Fall In hindsight, mandatory water emergency facility only treated 1 million
Creek Falls State Park, Fall Creek Falls restrictions coupled with the activation gallons of water. TDEC & TDOC officials
Utility District, and the Bledsoe County of the supply from Crossville through commented, “We now know that we can
Correction Complex appears to be over, South Cumberland Utility District, along do this if the need ever arises again. This
at least for the moment. All parties agreed with the farmer’s supply of surface water effort was not wasted.” While SSR agrees
to decommission the emergency water to the Pikeville Water Treatment Plant with the sentiment, the recommendation
treatment plant immediately after the first mitigated the need for the emergency to all who read this is to prepare for the
of the year and send the equipment back plant at the park. In all, the temporary next drought while it’s still raining.
to their manufacturers.

Was It Worth It?

You can only make the best decision
based on the information available at
any given moment. All of the involved
decision-makers made the best calls that
they could with the data on hand at the
time. The Pikeville Water Treatment Plant
was essentially out of water. The Bee
Creek Reservoir was lower than anyone
had ever seen before, and the raw water
pumps were at 1/3 of capacity. Multiple
weather agencies believed the drought
would continue until spring because of
La Niña. Based on this information and
an expeditious evaluation of available
alternatives, producing water at Fall
Creek Falls State Park was the most
reasonable and economical solution to
the impending water supply crisis.

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