Officials with Tennessee American Water Company said the utility company which provides water to the greater Chattanooga area is performing additional sampling in the wake of a fuel spill on the Tennessee River.

Daphne Kirksey, a spokesperson for TWAC said in an email statement that company officials are confident that there is no threat to the drinking water supply.

Kirksey’s email elaborated on several points:

• We responded immediately and feel confident that there is no threat to the drinking water supply.

• We were informed by emergency management personnel on Monday evening of a diesel spill on Citico Creek which is adjacent to our property.  We are monitoring the situation and have been in contact with TDEC.

• Emergency management personnel shared with us that an environmental cleanup company would be cleaning the spill.

• Our monitoring and analysis of water samples yesterday did not indicate any changes related to the spill.  We are also performing additional sampling while the cleanup continues.

• We have a plant operator on site 24/7 that monitors and samples at the plant at all times.

• Out of an abundance of caution, we are utilizing powdered activated carbon since yesterday evening.  The carbon is a protocol recommended by TDEC for emergency readiness. The carbon helps to eliminate any probable contaminants when the water is initially drawn into the plant from the river.

On Monday a fuel spill was discovered near the mouth of Citico Creek leading into the Tennessee River. Today officials with the Chattanooga Fire Department said the source of the spill was from a Norfolk Southern pipe in the Debutts Yard. Officials said the spill has stopped and Norfolk Southern has hired several  environmental remediation companies to clean up the spill. That effort could take several days, officials said.