Campus Expansion May Stress SUD’s Capacity

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer 

At the Aug. 26 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, SUD manager Ben Beavers updated the board on the pilot wetlands for recycling wastewater slated for construction on SUD’s property in the coming year. A discussion followed about the impact of University expansion on SUD’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The board also discussed water theft and authorized purchase of a new service vehicle.

The constructed wetlands project is a research pilot program being undertaken jointly by the University of the South and the University of Georgia, slated to be operational by the summer of 2015. The project coordinators anticipate presenting a design proposal in February for the approval of SUD and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).

At a recent meeting with the project planning committee and TDEC, Beavers asked the University group not to locate the wetlands on SUD’s spray fields. SUD has other suitable land available. The spray fields are the key component in SUD’s wastewater treatment system. SUD’s WWTP is currently operating at 60 percent capacity.

SUD Commissioner Ken Smith said University plans call for increasing enrollment to a total of 1,800–2,000 students over the course of the next several years. 

“The University needs to maintain an open line of communication with SUD as additional students and faculty will put pressure on SUD’s WWTP capacity.”

Beavers said a significant increase of students would require expanding the spray fields. Water supply could also be an issue with a steep population increase.

Revisiting the topic of unaccounted-for water loss (the difference between water treated at the plant and water registered as sold on customer meters), board president Cliff Huffman suggested SUD consider purchasing ultrasonic detection equipment. This could help detect leaks in distribution lines and also aid in curbing unauthorized consumption, treated water stolen from hydrants or other sources. At 26 percent, SUD’s unaccounted-for water loss cost the University workers taking water from a SUD hydrant for sod installation at the Sewanee Inn. In most cases, SUD had no way of knowing water theft is occurring unless someone contacts the utility. The board discussed implementing a customer awareness campaign to encourage reporting of theft.

Beavers cited two other possible sources of unaccounted-for water loss. Water used to flush University fire lines for hydrants and sprinklers is not metered, Beavers said. For record-keeping purposes, Beavers plans to require meters on fire lines in new buildings. The other likely source of water loss is from leaks in aging components of SUD’s distribution system.

The board authorized the purchase of a three-quarter-ton truck with a utility bed, four-wheel drive and generator, with an anticipated cost $40,000. The budget for the past two years included $45,000 for purchase of a service vehicle. The truck will be used to pull the excavator and for other service-related and installation work. The half-ton truck currently being used for the job will replace the no-longer serviceable truck at the WWTP.

The next meeting of the SUD board is Sept. 16.