Norris sewer work brings odor warnings, closures to East Norris, Pine roads
A Norris Water Commission crew works on a project on East Norris Road at Pine Road on Tuesday morning in the construction area where sewer improvements are underway. At left is Norris Chief of Police Mike Poole, and crouched down in the center is Norris Water Superintendent Tony Wilkerson. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
Detours were in effect again for East Norris Road from Pine Road to Dogwood Road beginning Monday morning, with a city work crew actively digging with a backhoe just north of Pine Road.
Hurst Excavating LLC. of Knoxville began work July 14 on an $851,455 contract from the city for the first phase of sewer-line upgrades.
The project includes replacing older lines to help reduce the influx of stormwater runoff that overwhelms the city’s sewage-treatment plant following significant rainfall.
Water Superintendent Tony Wilkerson told the City Council last week that the project had moved into a new phase, with more-frequent road blockages coming.
He said some workers have been hanging tags on residents’ front doors warning about sewer-line installations that could cause odor problems in houses along Pine Road.
The yellow tags, titled “Attention: Inliner Solutions is in Your Neighborhood,” tell residents:
“Disruption to you will be minimal, but we need your help. We need you to limit your sewer use during [the period specified on the tag].
“Specifically, please avoid the following: showers and baths, washing clothes, washing dishes, excessive toilet usage.”
As for the odor issue, the tags say:
“On rare occasions during our installation process, a distinctive resin-like odor may be detected. This odor is noticeable even at very low levels. The odor will dissipate with exposure to fresh air, and there are no residual residue effects.”
To help prevent the odor from permeating the home, the notice continues:
“The odor typically enters via a trap that is void of water, or a plumbing defect. Please fill all drains, especially those that don’t get used often, with a bucket of water.
“This will fill the trap and prevent the odor from entering your home or business.”
Wilkerson has enlisted the Norris Police Department to help ensure that drivers and pedestrians do not enter the construction areas when they are blocked off.
The current contract, approved April 14 by the council, covers about 25% of the sanitary-sewer system.
Eventually, the city will have to spend upwards of $6 million on sewer system upgrades to comply with orders given to the city in 2023 by Tennessee environmental regulators.
