Nashville contends with 900 water main breaks following winter storm; Council advances DuPont settlement

Nashville contends with 900 water main breaks following winter storm; Council advances DuPont settlementMetro Water Services crews managed a massive surge in pipe failures following a severe freeze-thaw event, while the Metropolitan Council moved forward with legislation to accept industry settlement funds and amend maintenance contracts.

Metro Water Services (MWS) repaired over 900 water main breaks citywide following Winter Storm Fern, according to union representatives.

The Metropolitan Council passed an ordinance on second reading to accept funds from DuPont's $1.185 billion national settlement regarding PFAS contamination.

Legislation was filed to amend a contract with Hydromax USA for valve exercising and hydrant maintenance services.

The Council approved multiple routine ordinances accepting new public water and sanitary sewer mains for various private developments.

Following a severe winter weather event dubbed "Winter Storm Fern," the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County focused heavily on infrastructure recovery during its February 3, 2026 meeting. While much of the public discussion centered on electrical grid failures, significant attention was brought to the operational resilience of the city's water infrastructure during the freeze-thaw cycle. During the public comment period, Alexandria Danner, an organizer with SEIU Local 205, reported that Metro Water Services (MWS) had to address over 900 water main breaks across the city as the ice melted. Danner noted that despite the severity of the weather, the city "escaped a second mass suffering event" regarding water access due to crews working around the clock to repair the breaks. It was noted that many MWS employees continued these repairs while facing power outages and lack of water in their own homes. On the legislative front, the Council moved forward with significant financial and maintenance items. The body passed Ordinance BL2026-1246 on second reading via the consent agenda. This legislation authorizes the acceptance and appropriation of Public Water System Settlement Funds from DuPont to the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services. These funds stem from a $1.185 billion national settlement established to address PFAS contamination in public water systems. While the specific dollar amount allocated to Nashville varies based on factors such as contamination levels and the number of impacted water sources, the acceptance marks a step toward mitigating long-term chemical pollutants. Additionally, the Council filed Ordinance BL2026-1258, which seeks to approve amendment two to a contract between the Metropolitan Government and Hydromax USA, LLC. This contract covers valve exercising and hydrant maintenance services, a critical component of distribution system asset management. The Council also approved several routine resolutions and ordinances regarding the abandonment and acceptance of water and sanitary sewer mains for new developments. These included infrastructure for the Reynolds Road Industrial Development, Vanderbilt University projects, and the Antioch 15 Phase 1 development. A resolution was also passed approving an agreement between MWS and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) for a landscaping project on Murfreesboro Pike.