Residents of Memphis Suburb Told to Avoid Tap Water After Fuel Spill

Residents of a Tennessee city must keep avoiding using their tap water after diesel fuel being used to power a generator at a treatment plant leaked into a reservoir, officials said Friday.

Officials in the Memphis suburb of Germantown first told its 40,000 residents Thursday to stop using water for everything except flushing toilets. They have been told to not drink or boil water, or to use water for showering or bathing. Officials advised using bottled water for personal use.

Residents reported a fuel smell in the water in their homes Thursday, officials said. The fuel spill came from a generator being used at a water treatment plant that lost power after recent storms, officials said. The leak was stopped and state environmental officials were advised of the spill.

On Friday public works crews were flushing and cleaning the system, and testing the water. A bottled water distribution center was set up in the city.

Officials said they did not expect people who used the water before the advisory to experience health problems. It was not immediately clear when the tap water would be deemed safe for use.