SUD Discusses Finances; Wetlands Progress

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
“We’re not going to postpone what we need to get done,” said SUD Manager Ben Beavers on the decrease in water sales at the May 17 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties.
SUD’s water sales for April were 20 percent below budget, with year-to-date water sales down by 21 percent. Year-to-date expenses are 5 percent over budget.
Beavers attributed the decline in water sale to people “conserving more” and the University installing artificial turf, reducing the need for irrigation water. Total revenues are only down by 7 percent, Beavers said. The fees for new water taps have helped offset the decrease in water sales.
Rebuilding pumps at the wastewater treatment plant largely accounted for the increase in expenses over the budgeted amount. If revenues continue to fall short, SUD can draw on its cash reserves to cover expenses, Beavers said, but he stressed, “The decrease in sales will play into constructing our budget for next year.”
Reporting on operations, Beavers said unaccounted-for water loss is “moderating,” noting a slight decline compared to the year-to-date average. Unaccounted-for water loss is the difference between water produced at the plant and water passing through customer meters, meaning SUD is not paid for the water. Reducing unaccounted-for water loss could help address the revenue-expense shortfall, Beavers explained. “We’re concentrating our efforts on the Jump Off community,” he said. Through metering, SUD identified a 20-gallon-per-minute leak in Jump Off, but is having difficulty finding the leak, because the service line is so long there.
Updating the board on progress at the constructed wetlands, a research project undertaken jointly by the University of the South and the University of Georgia, Beavers said construction of the cells (ponds) was completed, and all that remained to be done was the electrical work, seeding and laying straw. The University has requested permission to use potable water to saturate the soil for planting. Beavers estimated the cost at $1,500, depending on rainfall.
Reviewing rainfall data, Beavers said the drought index logged the month of April as dry. “That’s unusual for this time of year. We had less than an inch- and-a-half of rain last month.” So far SUD’s water supply is holding steady compared to past years, with Lake O’Donnell down one foot and Lake Jackson overflowing.
SUD efforts to address the low water pressure in Midway continues. “We should know by the end of the month if installing an altitude valve at the St. Andrew’s-Sewanee water tank will remedy the problem,” Beavers said. If not, SUD will move forward with installing a pressure-boosting station in the Midway community.
The SUD board next meets on Tuesday, June 14, two weeks earlier than usual.