Metro Water and NDOT warn of thaw‑related main breaks, outline vegetation removal and road priorities

Metro Water Services Director Scott Potter said normal flow at this time of year is about 95,000,000 gallons and that current flow is roughly 130,000,000 gallons because many residents are "letting their faucets drip" to protect pipes. He said that 100 gallons of water (including sewer fees and taxes) costs about $1.70 and estimated that a slow drip could be roughly 40 gallons per faucet per day, making the small cost worth the protection of home plumbing.

Potter said Metro Water is watching three areas closely for main breaks — Oak Hill, Jolton and the Love Circle area — and urged residents who see water running in the street to call (615) 862‑4600. He said water plants are on emergency diesel power and most pump stations have power; NES has been helpful in restorations.

Philip from NDOT described a pretreated response beginning four days before the storm, multi‑shift staffing and coordination with NES and TDOT. He said primary routes are the top priority because they provide access to hospitals and interstates, secondaries are being made passable where possible, and "post secondary" routes will be addressed afterward. Philip said about 15 vegetation‑removal crews were working and the city plans a county‑wide sweep to pick up branches and cut material, noting that residents should be mindful where they place vegetation so it does not dam ditches or stormwater infrastructure.

Officials cautioned that thawing followed by freezing overnight could cause re‑icing on side streets and asked for patience while crews perform cuts and schedule debris pickup, which they estimated could take a couple of weeks in some areas.

For water main issues residents were given the direct reporting number and told Metro Water has crews and contractors ready to respond as thaw‑related breaks are reported.