By HAYLEY HARMON
6 News Reporter
LENOIR CITY (WATE) - Dozens of Lenoir City residents were without water for about 24 hours until it was restored Friday afternoon.
A Lenoir City Utilities Board water main tank ruptured, stopping the flow of water to about 150 homes and businesses. The utility first got calls about the problem Thursday afternoon around 2:00.
The break, located about two miles from downtown Lenoir City, was repaired by 2:00 p.m. Friday and service was restored to all customers by 3:00 p.m.
Crews trying to restore water service were hampered by a heavy amount of rain that fell overnight, which drained into the area where they needed to work.
"We had a lot of rain," said LCUB Safety Director Matt Fagiana. "The water main break actually sits dead center on a drain that carries downtown rainfall water to the Tennessee River. So once we pumped out so much water to get close to the break, basically a lot of rain took us back to square one."
LCUB workers distributed 180 or more gallons of bottled water to customers who were without service.
