City Alerts & Notices

You’re invited to a special called meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. at Copperhill City Hall, convened to address matters requiring timely attention. The meeting agenda is available here.

Copperhill Utilities has completed the necessary flushing and corrective steps within the water system to allow for new water samples to be collected and submitted for testing.

The samples have been delivered to the laboratory. We have been advised that results will take at least 24 hours.

THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT.

Until the City officially announces that the advisory has been lifted, do not use tap water for drinking or consumption without boiling it first.

During the Boil Water Advisory, bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 full minute before using it for:

• Drinking
• Cooking and food preparation
• Making ice
• Brushing teeth
• Making baby formula
• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Preparing beverages

Discard any ice made from tap water while the advisory is in effect.

For bathing, water may generally be used, but avoid swallowing the water and use caution with young children.

For washing dishes, use bottled water or water that has been boiled and cooled when possible.

Please continue to conserve water and follow the Boil Water Advisory until further notice.

DONATED SUPPLIES AVAILABLE

Thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organizations, the City has donated supplies available for residents who need them, including:

• Bottled water
• Cleaning supplies
• Paper products
• Hand sanitizer and wipes
• Snack items

We are grateful to everyone who has continued to step up and support Copperhill during this difficult situation.

We will provide another update as soon as laboratory results are available and we know the next steps.

The results from the latest water samples did not meet the required standards. As a result, the Boil Water Advisory remains in effect.

PLEASE DO NOT CONSUME THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.

Until further notice, all Copperhill Utilities customers should bring water to a rolling boil for at least 1 full minute before using it for:

• Drinking
• Cooking or food preparation
• Making ice
• Brushing teeth
• Making baby formula
• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Preparing beverages such as coffee or tea

DO NOT use ice made from the tap water while the advisory is in effect. Discard any ice that was made after the water system became compromised.

For bathing and showering: The water may generally be used for bathing, but avoid getting water in your mouth or eyes. Young children should be supervised carefully to prevent them from swallowing the water.

For washing dishes: If possible, use bottled water or water that has been brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute. If using a dishwasher, use the hottest setting and allow dishes to completely air dry.

Handwashing: Use boiled and cooled water or bottled water when preparing food or eating. If bottled or boiled water is not available, use hand sanitizer after washing.

DO NOT assume that because the water looks clear or smells normal that it is safe to drink. Contamination cannot necessarily be seen, smelled, or tasted.

We know this is difficult, especially after everything our community has experienced. Our crew is continuing to address the issues within the system. Additional follow-up testing will be necessary before we can determine that the water is safe and lift the Boil Water Advisory.

Please take this advisory seriously and continue boiling your water until the City officially announces that the advisory has been lifted.

We are continuing to await the results from the water samples submitted for testing. We are hopeful that we will receive an update as early as this evening.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect until the testing is complete, the results are reviewed, and the system is determined to be safe.

There will be no organized bottled water or paper product distribution today. However, if you have a need for these supplies, please contact Mayor Barker at [email protected] to arrange a time for pickup at City Hall or delivery for those homebound.

We appreciate everyone’s continued patience and cooperation as we work toward the safe restoration of normal water service.

Our Copperhill Utilities maintenance crew has worked tirelessly over the past several days to locate and mitigate leaks, rebuild pressure, and stabilize the water system. Their dedication and hard work have brought us to an important milestone.

Pressure has now built sufficiently within the system to allow crews to flush the lines and collect water samples for testing.

The required samples have been collected and delivered to the laboratory for analysis. We are advised that results may take approximately 24–48 hours.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect.

Please continue to boil water for drinking, cooking, food preparation, brushing teeth, making beverages, and making ice until the advisory is officially lifted.

Even though we have reached the testing stage, the advisory will remain in place while we await the laboratory results and evaluate the condition of the system.

This is a significant step forward, and we are grateful to our maintenance and utility crews for their tireless work throughout this difficult situation. We also appreciate the patience, conservation, and cooperation of our residents and businesses.

We will provide an update as soon as the test results are received and we know more.

Bottled water and essential supplies are available today until 2:00 p.m. at:

Copperhill City Hall
160 Main Street
Church Street side – Gym Entrance

Supplies include bottled water, paper products, wipes, hand sanitizer, and snack foods.

Water System Update

Our crews have identified and mitigated additional leaks this morning as we continue working to stabilize the system and restore reliable water service.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect. At this time, we do not have a clear timeline for when the system will stabilize enough for the required testing to begin. We will provide an update as soon as we have more information.

Garbage Collection Delayed

Garbage service is delayed due to the extent of the ongoing work required to locate and address water system leaks. Our crews are being prioritized toward this critical work, and collection will resume as conditions and available manpower permit.

We appreciate everyone’s continued patience, conservation efforts, and understanding as our crews work to get the system back to normal.

Progress is being made. Our crews located and repaired additional leaks today as we continue working to stabilize the Copperhill Utilities system.

The search for additional leaks will take place again tonight using specialized acoustic listening equipment, which allows technicians to detect the sound of water escaping from underground lines.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect. Please continue to follow all boil water precautions and conserve water.

WATER & ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES AVAILABLE TOMORROW

Bottled water and essential supplies will be available for pickup tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Available supplies include:

• Bottled water
• Paper products
• Hand sanitizer
• Wipes
• Snack foods

Copperhill City Hall
160 Main Street
Church Street side – Gym Entrance

Thank you for your continued patience, cooperation, and support. Our crews are working diligently to locate and repair the remaining leaks and get our system back to normal operations.

Bottled water and paper products will be available for pickup beginning at 9:00 a.m. at:

Copperhill City Hall
160 Main Street, Copperhill
Church Street side of the building (Gym Entrance)

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect. Please continue to boil all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, and food preparation.

Our crews and staff continue to dedicate manpower to locating leaks, restoring adequate pressure, and getting the water system back to normal operations. Because our resources are focused on these critical efforts, garbage collection will be completed as manpower and conditions permit.

Thank you for your continued patience, cooperation, and understanding as we work to restore full water service and safely lift the Boil Water Advisory.

Our crews spent the day searching for leaks throughout the Copperhill Utilities distribution system. Small leaks were identified and repaired. The system, however, is still experiencing pressure loss, indicating that additional leaks remain.

Some customers continue to experience low water pressure, and some homes remain without water service. We understand the hardship this has created and are working as quickly as possible to restore service to all customers.

This evening, a contractor is utilizing acoustic leak detection equipment to help locate leaks that cannot be found through normal inspection methods.

Additionally, at the City’s request, the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts (TAUD) is deploying utility system specialists to Copperhill to assist with advanced diagnostics and leak detection. We are hopeful their expertise will help identify the remaining issues preventing the system from reaching the stable pressure and tank levels required to begin the bacteriological testing process.

The Boil Water Advisory remains in effect.

The advisory cannot be lifted until the water system has stabilized and the required bacteriological samples are collected and confirmed safe through laboratory testing.

We know this has been a difficult and frustrating situation, and we sincerely appreciate your continued patience, water conservation efforts, and support as we work to restore the system.

We will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m., Copperhill Utilities customers may pick up bottled water and essential supplies at:

Copperhill City Hall
160 Main Street, Copperhill, TN
Church Street side of the building (Gym Entrance)

Available items include:

• Bottled water
• Paper products (while supplies last)

These supplies are being distributed due to the Boil Water Advisory, which remains in effect.

If you are unable to travel and need assistance obtaining supplies, please contact Copperhill City Hall at 423-496-5141 to coordinate delivery.

Thank you to our volunteers, partner agencies, and everyone who has donated to support our community during this time.