The town of Signal Mountain has completed a temporary fix to the water pipe under Sunset Drive, which was separated Thursday morning due to the shifting ground underneath the road. Water was expected to be restored by 4:45 p.m. to the approximately 30-35 homes affected, said Town Manager Boyd Veal.
"The same issue that's affecting [Hamilton County's] road is affecting our water line," said Veal, emphasizing that the issue is not a water main break. "The ground is actually moving and pulling our pipes apart at the joint."
(MORE: Signal Mountain home evacuated because of seismic shift)
The pipe pulled apart for the first time last week, said Veal. The town's water department used flexible, high-density polyethylene pipe left exposed on top of the ground to the extent possible so the pipe would not be susceptible to ground movement. That temporary fix lasted until Thursday morning.
"We're doing some temporary repairs; what we will do ultimately will depend on what the county decides in terms of road repairs," said Veal, adding that the town is looking into extending the HDPE pipe within the next few days while they wait on the county's decision regarding the road to do a permanent fix.