SUD Considers Amending Cross- Connection Policy

by Leslie Lytle,  Messenger Staff Writer

At the March 25 meeting, the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties discussed amending the cross connection policy to address customers’ failure to have their backflow prevention devices tested annually. The board also responded to questions about SUD’s rate structure and late payment penalty.

SUD manager Ben Beavers expressed concern about customers’ failure to report their backflow prevention device test results. In keeping with requirements of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), SUD’s cross-connection policy requires customers to install a backflow prevention device anytime there is a possibility water from other sources could enter SUD’s distribution lines. Beavers will research the fee charged by other utilities for testing backflow prevention devices.

University Superintendent of Leases Barbara Schlichting contacted Beavers on behalf of the University’s Board of Trustees Community Relations Committee. A resident had posed a question to the committee about why SUD’s rates were “so high.” Schlichting asked if Beavers or a SUD representative would address the topic at the April 3 town meeting hosted by this committee. 

In discussing the rate question, Beavers pointed out that SUD’s rates were based on the annual review and recommendations of the consulting firm Raftelis Financial Inc., taking into account SUD’s present and projected expenses. 

The board instructed Beavers to decline the invitation to address the town meeting and to encourage customers with questions about rates to contact Beavers directly or to raise the question at a SUD board meeting. 

Commissioner Ken Smith was contacted on behalf of an elderly customer and asked why SUD’s late-fee penalty was so high. SUD’s late-fee penalty, 10 percent, is the same as that charged by the city of Decherd. Monteagle and Tracy City charge 10 percent plus $2. Winchester charges a 5 percent penalty.

Beavers said, “There must be a penalty” for failure to pay by a set date to encourage customers to pay in a timely fashion. To assist low-income customers, SUD annually contributes Project Help funds to the Community Action Committee (CAC) in Sewanee. CAC decides who receives assistance and how much. Beavers said in hardship cases or extenuating circumstances, arrangements could be made for late payment with a penalty adjustment by contacting SUD before the bill due date had passed.

Reporting on the meter replacement program and automated meter reading (AMR) technology being installed by SUD, Beavers said about one-third of the customer meters have been replaced and are AMR-equipped. Recent accuracy testing revealed that Badger brand meters would not need to be replaced when fewer than 250,000 gallons had passed through the meter. This will reduce the number of meter replacements by 300, Beavers said. As a result, he anticipates the AMR project coming in under budget.

The next meeting of the SUD board is scheduled for April 22.