Tennessee American Water aims to boost service for Lookout Valley with $5M project
Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, construction workers remove rocks from the river bed in preparation for setting the pipe. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the Tennessee River that will provide service to Lookout Valley. Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, construction workers remove rocks from the river bed in preparation for setting the pipe. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the Tennessee River that will provide service to Lookout Valley.
By David Floyd 5 min read
A construction barge in the middle of the Tennessee River is excavating rocks along the bottom of the waterway as crews prepare to install thousands of feet of water main that will improve service to the Lookout Valley area.
Tennessee American Water, a private utility that serves about 400,000 people in Tennessee and North Georgia, is in the middle of a $5 million project that will add a redundant water line for about 4,000 homes in that part of Chattanooga. Tennessee American Water is funding the project.
Crews will install 7,000 feet of 16-inch pipe that will cross the Tennessee River near Moccasin Bend Golf Course, where the river is about 1,100 feet wide.
Jon Sparkman, the company’s director of engineering, said there is currently a single source of water main that serves Lookout Valley from Chattanooga. The line travels around the foot of Lookout Mountain. This project will add an additional feed to provide redundancy for residents in that area.
Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, Tennessee American Water spokesperson Daphne Kirksey takes a photo of a construction barge in the Tennessee River. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the river that will provide service to Lookout Valley.Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, a construction barge sits in the Tennessee River. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the river that will provide service to Lookout Valley.Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, a construction barge sits in the Tennessee River. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the river that will provide service to Lookout Valley.Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, an excavator clears a path for pipes on the bank of the Tennessee River. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the river that will provide service to Lookout Valley.Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, a construction barge sits in the Tennessee River. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the river that will provide service to Lookout Valley.Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, construction workers remove rocks from the river bed in preparation for setting the pipe. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the Tennessee River that will provide service to Lookout Valley.Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, repurposed pipes that will be used in the Tennessee River are pictured. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the river that will provide service to Lookout Valley.Staff photo by Abby White / On Oct. 9, 2025, construction vehicles and pipes sit on the bank of the Tennessee River. Tennessee American Water is installing a water line across the river that will provide service to Lookout Valley.
