Jefferson County mayor declares state of emergency due to water shortage

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) — Jefferson County Mayor Mark Potts declared a state of emergency Tuesday afternoon in response to a “significant water shortage” impacting communities across the county.

City officials said Monday they were working to replace faulty filtration membranes at the water treatment plant, which caused low water tank levels and limited water access in parts of the city.

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Potts said the declaration allows the county to quickly mobilize resources and take the necessary steps to protect the water supply until normal levels can be restored.

“The safety and wellbeing of our residents is our top priority,” Potts said. “This declaration allows us to mobilize resources quickly, coordinate with state and regional partners, and take the necessary steps to protect our water supply until normal levels can be restored.”

The water shortage is impacting Jefferson City Utility, which is the supplier for utilities in New Market, Dandridge and Shady Grove.

Agencies have been preparing for emergencies that could happen during the shortage, including the New Market Fire Department, who said it is preparing tankers to respond to fires.

As of Tuesday evening, there’s no word on when water service will be fully operational again. In the meantime, the city has asked people to conserve water.

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