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The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced on Tuesday a mandatory water conservation order for all or parts of nine counties, including Carter County.

In addition to Carter, the orders are in place for all of Sullivan, Johnson, Greene, Unicoi, and Washington counties. Parts of the following counties are under the mandatory water conservation order: Cocke (Newport Utilities), Sevier (Webb Utility District), and Jefferson (Dandridge).

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with our fellow Tennesseans dealing with the severity of damage caused by the storm,” said TDEC Commissioner David Salyers. “In this critical time of limited resources clean water is essential for recovery and we call upon all citizens in these affected areas to conserve as much water as is possible.”

The call is for citizens to conserve any water that is for non-essential use. Examples of non-essential use of water are clothes washing, running dishwashers, landscaping irrigation, or washing cars.

Boil Water Advisories have been put into place by 16 drinking water utilities, including Elizabethton Water Department, South Elizabethton Utility District, and First Utility District of Carter County, and Hampton Utility District.

A Boil Water Advisory is issued when damage occurs to a water line or parts of the main water distribution system, or when water pressure drops and may allow bacteria to backwash into the water pipes. During a Boil Water Advisory, you should boil all tap water for at least three minutes. Let the water cool to a safe temperature before using it for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, or food preparation.