Nolichucky River Water Usage on the Rise

By Walter F. Roche Jr.

The use of free water from the Nolichucky River has been on the rise even as the company utilizing that water is planning to conduct tests that are normally used to detect leaks in pipes and other enclosures.
A review of monthly reports filed by US Nitrogen LLC shows that over the last six months the company has reported pumping 106.7 million gallons from the Nolichucky River through a 12-mile pipeline running from river mile marker 20.8 to the firm's Midway plant.
In the prior six months only 85.14 million gallons were pumped from the river. The usage jumped by more than 27 per cent in the latest six month period.
US Nitrogen, meanwhile, filed notice with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, of its intent to conduct tests that could result in 22,000 gallons of hydrostatic water being discharged from an opening in a section of that 12-mile pipe.
Hydrostatic water is normally used to detect leaks or weaknesses in pipelines.
US Nitrogen officials did not respond to a series of questions about the testing including the reason for conducting the tests.
According to the notice filed by US Nitrogen with TDEC the test water will be discharged from the pipeline 1,000 feet southeast of Lick Creek in the right of way along McDonald Road, about 1,800 feet from the Beulah Baptist Church.
The notice filed by the ammonium nitrate manufacturer states that "water flow will be maintained at a rate to minimize erosion. Hay bales and silt fence will be used to minimize TSS (Total Suspended Solids)."
The filing does not state exactly when the tests will be conducted but it does state that they will be completed by April 30 of next year.
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