Relief research · dataset 2026.08
Leak adjustment and assistance information for FIRST U.D. OF KNOX COUNTY
A high bill does not automatically qualify for a credit. This page states only the provider-specific emergency, leak, or assistance details identified in public material.
Stop active water loss
Use the provider’s emergency route for public-side issues and a qualified repair route for private plumbing.
Preserve the evidence
Keep dated readings, photographs, parts receipts, contractor invoices, and proof that usage returned to normal.
Ask for the exact policy
Confirm the form, filing deadline, eligible repairs, calculation method, and payment expectation during review.
Provider-specific findings
Relief research for this provider
The notes below may document a route, rule, or explicit public-information limit. General preparation steps are not represented as utility policy.
- Emergency reporting route
- 865-966-9021 for after-hours emergencies. The ordinary customer-service line is 865-966-9741, answered 24 hours according to the customer-service page, with normal office service Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Leak-adjustment policy
- First Utility may adjust water charges for hidden leaks such as underground or under-house supply lines or buried irrigation lines. The district may write off no more than half of the dollar overage, leaving the customer responsible for an average monthly bill plus at least half of the leak overage; when multiple bills are affected, only the two highest bills are eligible. The average is based on six comparable prior monthly bills, or all available prior bills, and one full billing period with no leak must occur before an adjustment is made. Only one adjustment is allowed in a 12-month period, and requests within 12 months of installing a supply line or irrigation system are ineligible. Residential customers will not pay more than the average bill plus $50 for each adjusted month. A repair document is mandatory; the request form asks for an itemized licensed-plumber bill or dated homeowner receipts and photos, and it must be submitted within 90 days of the first bill reflecting the leak. Sewer may be adjusted to the average bill only when it is clearly established that the leak did not enter the sanitary sewer.
- Utility assistance program
- No separate First Utility income-qualified bill-credit cap or senior/disabled-veteran discount was identified in the 2026 customer materials reviewed. Customers disputing a bill are instructed to continue paying the average monthly amount while the district reviews the dispute; failure to do so may cause interruption.
- State and federal aid connection
- No utility-specific LIHEAP, Tennessee water-assistance, or federal water-aid processing instructions were identified in First Utility’s public 2026 customer pages. Customers needing assistance should contact the district at 865-966-9741 and local social-service agencies; the utility’s documented support is its payment-review process and service notification system.
Directory comparison
Public-information visibility
| Measure | This provider | Tennessee | National index |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leak policy identified | Yes | 32% | 35% |
| Utility assistance identified | Yes | 22% | 31% |
| Relief fields documented | 4 of 4 | — | — |
Coverage does not measure generosity, eligibility, available funding, or service quality.
Read the nationwide analysis →Research record
Broad public detail found
4 of 4 fields in this section contain provider-specific public detail in dataset August 1, 2026.
Documented
100%
Primary verification routes
- FIRST U.D. OF KNOX COUNTY public website ↗
Provider-controlled destination used to confirm current customer instructions.
- EPA SDWIS / ECHO lookup (TN0000369) ↗
Search the federal drinking-water database using public water system ID TN0000369.