SUD Board Discusses Wastewater Collection, Examines Audit

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Much of the discussion focused on wastewater collection at the Aug. 4 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties. Leaks, overflows and customer responsibility for sewer lines were top on the agenda.

SUD manager Ben Beavers said the 50-year-old pumping station at Mikell Lane needs immediate attention to reduce overflows during heavy rainfall. The pumping station will be a “big-ticket item,” Beavers cautioned. Beavers will provide details on the cost at the next meeting. The pumping station on Roarks Cove Road (aka Alto Road)also needs to be refurbished or replaced.

Sani-Tech has completed the video camera inspection of SUD’s sewer lines, Beavers said. Data from the video survey will be entered into a computer program that will prioritize information on which sewer lines are most in need of being repaired or replaced and the related cost. Inflow and infiltration of water into the sewer lines puts strain on SUD’s wastewater treatment plant. 

“My goal is to do the needed repairs and keep customer rates low,” Beavers said.

In response to a question by board member Randall Henley, Beavers said customers were responsible for maintenance and repair of the sewer line between their residence and the sewer main, even if the line crossed other residents’ property or University property. SUD offers financial assistance for the portion of repairs off the customer’s property. Contact the SUD office for details.

Updating the board on the faulty meters installed in conjunction with the upgrade to automated meter reading technology, Beavers said the manufacturer, Itron, had agreed to replace the encoder receiver transmitter (ERT) in all the units or, if necessary, to replace the entire meter. Itron will pay all labor-related costs. SUD has already replaced most of the residential meters that had problems, Beavers said. The faulty ERTs resulted in meter reading errors. The replacement installation should be completed before the end of the year. 

SUD will receive a “fresh warranty” on all the meters.

On another issue related to water supply, Beavers said recent hydrant maintenance revealed eight to 10 hydrant leaks, some as much as two to three gallons per minute, contributing to SUD’s unaccounted-for water loss. 

SUD will rebuild the hydrants at a cost of $150 per unit, rather than contract out the repair, which could cost four times as much.

SUD’s recent audit has been submitted to the state for review. The auditor reported two minor discrepancies, one a recurring issue for which SUD has no remedy: inadequate segregation of duties. To satisfy the requirement, SUD would need to hire additional office employees, Beavers said, and SUD’s volume of business doesn’t justify the expense. The audit also faulted SUD for failure to supply adequate internal controls of inventory, providing a monthly accounting of each item and its use. Beavers will investigate solutions and propose including the cost in the 2016 budget. Beavers said SUD has very few items in inventory, because most of SUD’s needs can be satisfied with next-day delivery. He questioned the wisdom of purchasing costly accounting software to satisfy the requirement.

The SUD board meets next on Sept. 22.