Helpful Tips

811 Sticker

Tennessee 811 is the underground utility notification center for Tennessee.

Using our service, excavators are able to notify operators of underground facilities of proposed excavations, to request that the underground facilities be marked before they dig.

Buried utilities could exist just about anywhere you dig. Homeowners and contractors can prevent damage to underground utilities and prevent service interruptions by calling TN811 at least three working days prior to excavating.

It's free, easy, and it's the law!

TN811 receives information from callers who are digging, processes it using a sophisticated software mapping system, and notifies underground utility operators that may have utilities in the area. The owners of the utilities then send personnel to mark and locate their utilities. Tennessee 811 accepts locate requests twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Always call 811 before you dig!

Water Conservations Tips

Water is our most valuable resource. It is the "lifeblood" of our community. You can play a role in conserving water and save yourself money in the process by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water.

  • Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So get a run for your money and load it to capacity
  • Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, brush your teeth, etc.
  • Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 10 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year.
  • Install water saving devices - use low-flow shower heads, faucet aerators or flow restrictors.
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FOG

Fats, Oils, & Grease (FOG)

You may not be aware of it, but every time you pour fat, oil, or grease (FOG) down your sink (e.g., bacon grease), you are contributing to a costly problem in the sewer collection system. FOG coats the inner walls of the plumbing in your house as well as the walls of underground piping throughout the community. Over time, these greasy materials build up and form blockages in pipes, which can lead to wastewater backing up into parks, yards, streets, and storm drains. These backups allow FOG to contaminate local waters, including drinking water. Exposure to untreated wastewater is a public health hazard. FOG discharged into septic systems and drain fields can also cause malfunctions, resulting in more frequent tank pump-outs and other expenses. Communities spend billions of dollars every year to unplug or replace grease-blocked pipes, repair pump stations, and clean up costly and illegal wastewater spills. Here are some tips that you and your family can follow to help maintain a well-run system now and in the future:

NEVER:

  • Pour fats, oil, or grease down the house or storm drains.
  • Dispose of food scraps by flushing them.
  • Use the toilet as a waste basket.

ALWAYS:

  • Scrape and collect fat, oil, and grease into a waste container such as an empty coffee can, and dispose of it with your garbage.
  • Place food scraps in waste containers or garbage bags for disposal with solid wastes.
  • Place a wastebasket in each bathroom for solid wastes like disposable diapers, creams and lotions, and personal hygiene products including nonbiodegradable wipes.