US Nitrogen Water Use Drops

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

The volume of water being pumped from the Nolichucky River dropped dramatically in July, according to a report filed by US Nitrogen with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
The one-page report filed today shows the chemical company drew a little under 8.8 million gallons from the river in July for use in manufacturing ammonium nitrate. That compares to some 18 million pumped from the river in June.
The Midway company also reported discharging 5.6 million gallons back into the river during July. In June the company discharged 7.6 million gallons in the river.
The pumping is done through two 12 mile long pipelines from Midway to the Noliuchucky River. US Nitrogen obtained a disputed permit from the state to install the pipeline along two state highways. The legality of that permit is being challenged in ongoing litigation in Davidson Chancery Court in Nashville.
According to the monthly report very little water was drawn from the river from July 1 to July 5 but between July 13 and July 16 nearly a million gallons per day was pumped from the river.
On 19 days in July the company did not discharge any water back into the river but on 12 other days more than 500,000 gallons were discharged.
US Nitrogen is required under the terms of its permit to file monthly reports on the water drawn from and discharged to the Nolichucky.
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