Tennessee Valley Authority
Water Supply
Although
the Tennessee Valley usually receives abundant rainfall, averaging 51
inches per year, several extended dry periods during the past
25 years have heightened public awareness of water as a limited resource
and raised questions concerning the availability of water in the
Tennessee River watershed. Increasingly, water is seen as a scarce
resource that must be protected and managed.
The Tennessee River watershed will add about 1.2 million more residents to the existing 4.7 million by 2030, according to recent projections by TVA and the U.S. Geological Survey. Additionally, growth in urban areas around the region, some of which are already facing water-supply challenges, will increase pressure on the Tennessee Valley’s water resources.
TVA is working with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and communities across the Tennessee Valley to meet these challenges. The goal is to ensure adequate, sustainable supplies of water for the region’s continued growth.
Managing the Tennessee River for water supply
TVA’s integrated management of the Tennessee River provides water for a wide range of public benefits. These include water for drinking, industrial use, and agriculture; for generating hydropower and cooling nuclear and fossil power plant components; and for navigation, recreation, and environment for plant and animal life.
In some cases, these uses of water compete, especially under drought conditions. TVA is committed to developing regional partnerships to address these conflicts and help respond to the population and environmental pressures of the coming decades. Learn more about TVA’s water supply activities.
Water conservation
Conserving water not only reduces the demand we put on our water supply, it’s also good for the environment. Valley communities that use less water produce less wastewater, which includes runoff from lawns, sewage, soapy water from car-washing, and other sources. When there’s less wastewater flowing into our streams and rivers, water quality improves. Users downstream have cleaner water for drinking, swimming, fishing, and use by industry.
Water conservation also contributes to cleaner air by reducing the amount of energy needed to heat, transport, and process water. These water and energy savings will show up on our utility bills. Find out what you can do to conserve water.
Frequently asked questions
Get answers to frequently asked questions about obtaining a water intake permit, improving water quality around intakes, interbasin transfers, and more.
TVA contact information
For issues related to flow or water elevations on regulated waterbodies, please contact:
TVA's River Forecast Center
(865) 632-6065 (weekdays, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm EDT)
(865) 632-7063 (weekends and weekdays, after 4:30 pm EDT)
For other water supply information, please contact:
Mike Eiffe, Manager, Water Supply: 865-632-3074
Chuck Bohac, Specialist: 423-751-7319
Gary Springston, Environmental Engineer: 423-751-7336
Michael McCall, Environmental Engineer: 423-751-8390
Online resources
The following links will take you to water supply information on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Ground Water and Drinking Water site.
Drinking Water and Health: What You Need to Know
Fact Sheet on Drinking Water Contaminants
List of Drinking Water Contaminants and MCLs
Local Drinking Water Information
Getting Your Drinking Water Tested
Analytical Methods for Drinking Water
National Public Water Systems Compliance Report
Small Drinking Water Systems: Small Systems and Capacity Development