MLGW crews have restored water services in the North Parkway area following yesterday's main break. Additional info:
*After the water service is restored, customers should turn on their faucets and let the water run until it clears.
*It is normal for water to appear rust-colored after a water main break. The water should clear.
*Customers should refrain from washing clothes, making ice, etc. until they have allowed their faucets to run and the water to clear.
*Currently, westbound traffic in that area is restricted to the right lane of North Parkway. The middle lane should be repaired and open by the end of the day today, and the left lane will not be open until Monday at the earliest due to the amount of construction and excavation.
In summary:
*12" water main break occurred on North Parkway in front of Rhodes College late Thursday afternoon.
*Crews responded and immediately began working to isolate the break and shutdown down valves so repair could commence. MLGW water crews worked all evening and this morning to reduce the water levels, isolate the leak and repair the main.
*Rhodes College, Parkway Towers and the Memphis Zoo are among those who experienced disruption in water service due to the shutdown and repair.
*The main break was likely caused by the ground expanding -- happens sometimes when we see a temp change like we experienced this week.
Friday, February 17, 2012
MLGW is LifeBlood’s “Lifesaver of the Year” for 3rd Year in a Row
For the third straight year, MLGW has been honored by Lifeblood as its Lifesaver of the Year, which is presented to the organization that collects the most blood among all groups in the Memphis area. MLGW employees donated 700 units of blood in 2011, making it the top donor organization in the Memphis area. Potentially, Lifeblood could save up to 2,800 lives with these MLGW blood donations, as one unit of blood can save up to four lives. MLGW has been Lifeblood's leading donor since 2009.
Lifeblood is the areas leading provider of blood and blood components to area hospitals, supplying more than 100,000 units for local patient transfusions each year. Lifeblood is a member of America's Blood Centers, an alliance of community based, non-profit blood centers. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.lifeblood.org or call 1-888-LIFEBLOOD.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
New Book on Water Pumping Stations
Former MLGW employee, James Ingram, has a new book out...
From Memphis Magazine...
New Book Features Memphis Light, Gas & Water Pumping Stations
By Vance Lauderdale
You probably drive by these massive structures on North Parkway, Southern, Summer, and elsewhere in the city without even thinking about them, and that's a shame, because they play a critical role in our city.
No, I'm not talking about the buildings on the grounds of the Lauderdale Estate. Instead, I'm referring to the complex of Memphis Light, Gas and Water pumping stations, which supply a clean and steady source of water to every home, business, factory, and every place else in Memphis.
James Ingram, a longtime MLGW employee, has just published a very handsome book that takes a close look at these stations, inside and out, and it's packed with really wonderful information. The book has a lengthy title, which gives you a good idea of what it covers: Memphis Water Works Pumping Stations: The Story of Memphis, Tennessee's Artesian Water Supply and the MLGW Division in the Era of Steam Machinery.
Though just 74 pages, it's filled cover-to-cover with terrific images: beautiful architectural renderings of the various plants around town, such as the Sheahan Pumping Station just east of the University of Memphis campus (shown here), photos of the buildings under construction, details of the machinery and equipment, along with letters, records, charts, and other documents.
If you've never paid much attention to these buildings before, Ingram's book will certainly give you a better appreciation of them. If nothing else, you can't help but admire the architectural features and overall design of structures that, in the hands of lesser architects, would look rather utilitarian. Instead, some of the plants come across as majestic "temples to water," and Ingram helps convey that with the photographs he uncovered while researching this book.
So why would someone focus on such a specific subject? Well, Ingram and his father devoted most of their lives to working in and around these stations. He tells me, "My dad worked at both the North Parkway station and the Sheahan Station over by the U of M. He started in 1938 and retired in 1973. As for me, I graduated from Messick, went to Memphis State, and worked for the City of Memphis at the North (Maynard Stiles) Wastewater Treatment Plant."
Ingram is now retired and living in Fort Myers, Florida. About the book, he says, "I was always fascinated with the Sheahan and Parkway stations — how the water was obtained from compressed-air-powered air-lift artesian wells, how the steam machinery worked, and as I got into my teenage years, they would let me explore the old stations. I was always pestering my dad with questions — how this worked and that worked — and I even pestered them for photos, which they were happy to give me."
Many of the answers to those questions, along with the old photos, ended up in the book. It's clearly a labor of love, and definitely worth a read for anyone interested in Memphis history. To order a book, or for more information, go to the publisher's website, Blurb Books.
From Memphis Magazine...
New Book Features Memphis Light, Gas & Water Pumping Stations
By Vance Lauderdale
You probably drive by these massive structures on North Parkway, Southern, Summer, and elsewhere in the city without even thinking about them, and that's a shame, because they play a critical role in our city.
No, I'm not talking about the buildings on the grounds of the Lauderdale Estate. Instead, I'm referring to the complex of Memphis Light, Gas and Water pumping stations, which supply a clean and steady source of water to every home, business, factory, and every place else in Memphis.
James Ingram, a longtime MLGW employee, has just published a very handsome book that takes a close look at these stations, inside and out, and it's packed with really wonderful information. The book has a lengthy title, which gives you a good idea of what it covers: Memphis Water Works Pumping Stations: The Story of Memphis, Tennessee's Artesian Water Supply and the MLGW Division in the Era of Steam Machinery.
Though just 74 pages, it's filled cover-to-cover with terrific images: beautiful architectural renderings of the various plants around town, such as the Sheahan Pumping Station just east of the University of Memphis campus (shown here), photos of the buildings under construction, details of the machinery and equipment, along with letters, records, charts, and other documents.
If you've never paid much attention to these buildings before, Ingram's book will certainly give you a better appreciation of them. If nothing else, you can't help but admire the architectural features and overall design of structures that, in the hands of lesser architects, would look rather utilitarian. Instead, some of the plants come across as majestic "temples to water," and Ingram helps convey that with the photographs he uncovered while researching this book.
So why would someone focus on such a specific subject? Well, Ingram and his father devoted most of their lives to working in and around these stations. He tells me, "My dad worked at both the North Parkway station and the Sheahan Station over by the U of M. He started in 1938 and retired in 1973. As for me, I graduated from Messick, went to Memphis State, and worked for the City of Memphis at the North (Maynard Stiles) Wastewater Treatment Plant."
Ingram is now retired and living in Fort Myers, Florida. About the book, he says, "I was always fascinated with the Sheahan and Parkway stations — how the water was obtained from compressed-air-powered air-lift artesian wells, how the steam machinery worked, and as I got into my teenage years, they would let me explore the old stations. I was always pestering my dad with questions — how this worked and that worked — and I even pestered them for photos, which they were happy to give me."
Many of the answers to those questions, along with the old photos, ended up in the book. It's clearly a labor of love, and definitely worth a read for anyone interested in Memphis history. To order a book, or for more information, go to the publisher's website, Blurb Books.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
MLGW to Unveil Electric Vehicles on Thursday
As part of its Board of Commissioners meeting on Thursday, MLGW will unveil four new electric vehicles that have been added to its fleet. The vehicles will be presented shortly after the opening of the 1:30 President’s Briefing, in MLGW’s 2nd Street parking lot (in the event of inclement weather, the presentation will take place in the MLGW parking garage (the entrance is on Linden Ave.).
MLGW, City of Memphis and industry leaders gathered in February 2011 to announce that Memphis had been added to the EV Project, a federally- and privately-funded $230 million venture designed to increase adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and install charging infrastructure in selected metropolitan areas in Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, California, Oregon and Washington, plus the District of Columbia.
Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga are Tennessee sites for private and public access EV charging stations. ECOtality, the company managing the project, will deploy nearly 14,000 charging stations in the U.S., including some 40-50 public access stations within Shelby County.
Other facts about the project:
• About 300 residential charging stations have been installed in Tennessee, with a total of 500 expected by the end of the year.
• The entire state of Tennessee and both Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt owners have been included in the EV Project.
• EVs are increasing rapidly in availability: there were nine types of EVs available in 2011, and eight more companies will introduce their EVs in 2012.
• MLGW has added four EV sedans to its fleet, and will add EV bucket trucks in 2012.
• The Shelby Farms Park Conservancy recently conducted a groundbreaking for a solar-powered station that will be built in a parking lot at the facility.
• The station will have spaces for 10 vehicles, and in addition to charging electric cars it will generate clean power for the electrical grid.
• Total cost of the solar project is about $500,000, with funding provided through The EV Project, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Completion is set for late June.
• MLGW is also collaborating with TVA and EPRI on an initiative to study incentives for adopting EVs in non-road applications
You can find out more information about The EV Project and MLGW’s initiatives here:
• www.pluginmemphis.org
• www.theevproject.com
• www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/calc/
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
How to Apply for a Job Opening at MLGW
We regularly post job openings on our website. To apply, you must do so online. The following video provides step by step instructions.
To view and apply for openings, clicke here.
To view and apply for openings, clicke here.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Show Your Love with a Gift of Comfort
MLGW's Gift of Comfort program could be the perfect gift for your Valentine or a loved one who is having trouble keeping up with their utility costs. The Gift of Comfort is a program that provides a means for individuals in the community to make a payment towards a customer's utility bill as a gift. Gift of Comfort brochures are available at all MLGW community offices and can be downloaded here. To give this gift, you only need to know the recipient's address. Gifts can be purchased in any amount and will appear as a credit on the recipient's bill. Donations can be made anonymously (a secret Valentine) or a portion of the certificate can be detached and presented to the recipient.
Photo by Romeo's Mom
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A Guide to Understanding Your Bill
Here's a quick video to show you a few things you may not have noticed on your bill...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
