How does MLGW water main sale affect residents?

Germantown residents with water supplied by Memphis Light, Gas and Water will move under the city’s service next year.

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Oct. 11 unanimously approved a purchase agreement to acquire water mains owned by MLGW south of Winchester Road and east of Forest Hill Irene Road.

“Germantown has its own water systems, separate from MLGW,” said Bo Mills, public works director.

“We wanted to acquire their water mains so that one day we could supply city of Germantown water to all Germantown folks.”

The city must run its own water main to connect to the assets currently in place by MLGW, and then Germantown will systematically change the approximately 39 residences over to the city’s water.

Before then, the project will go through the spring’s budget process and, with approval, a construction contract will be in place by summer 2022.

Mills expects the project to cost around $1.5 million.

What will be different for Germantown residents

He said by fall 2022 residents will switch to the city’s system, although there is no difference in the water because both MLGW and Germantown receive water from the Memphis Sand Aquifer.

Mills said it is possible residents can expect a slightly cheaper water bill, which will average about $8.78 monthly.

Once construction for the main is complete, all water will be supplied through the city instead of MLGW, he said.

A few Germantown water mains still in place were supplied by MLGW but are owned by the city. Mills said eventually those will be converted as well.

“Everybody inside the city limits of Germantown will be supplied by the city of Germantown,” he said.

The city annexed the area south of Winchester in 1999 and bought the water system serving the area from Shelby County, but due to volume issues, MLGW began supplying water. Then public works began negotiations in 2019 with MLGW to acquire the assets.

“This is not an unusual acquisition,” said Quinton Clark, MLGW water engineer operations manager. “When municipalities annex territory and their municipal water utilities expand their infrastructure, they usually seek to start serving customers within that expanded territory.”

Clark said Germantown has worked cooperatively with MLGW for months for a “smooth transition” with the acquisition.

In February, MLGW issued a boil water advisory after ice and snow covered the Mid-south and water pressure fell.

Germantown residents who were part of MLGW were part of the boil water advisory that lasted about seven days, while residents receiving water from Germantown’s system were not impacted.

Once residents move under Germantown, MLGW issues will not affect city customers.

Dima Amro covers the suburbs for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at Dima.amro@ commercialappeal.com.