SUD Considers Midway Solutions, Cooley’s Rift Growth

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“Replacing the altitude valve in the water tank at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School could increase water pressure in the Midway community by six to eight psi,” said SUD Manager Ben Beavers at the March 22 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties. 

SUD has budgeted for a pressure-boosting station to address low water pressure in Midway since 2011. Easement difficulties stalled the project. Replacing the altitude valve in the SAS tank could be a far-less-costly and far-easier-to-maintain solution, Beavers said. “There would be no mechanical upkeep.”

The system functioned without an altitude valve before the water line from the SAS tank to Sewanee was increased from six inches to 10 inches. The larger line caused a drop in water pressure, making the valve necessary in order for the SAS water tank to fill properly.

In a January inspection of the SAS water tank, SUD learned the altitude valve was faulty. The tank no longer filled to capacity, causing a reduction in water pressure for customers in Midway.

The altitude valve will cost approximately $10,000, compared to $40,000 for the Midway pressure-boosting station, Beavers said. In the event the altitude valve does not remedy the problem of low water pressure in Midway, SUD will continue with the plan to install a pressure-boosting station. Beavers received approval from the state to extend the date of completion called for in the design plan, to avoid further delays if the pressure-boosting station project goes forward.

Looking at finances, Beavers said water sales in February were significantly lower than the same month in 2015, resulting in SUD receiving less revenue than anticipated. Beavers in part attributes the lower water sales to a decrease in water loss from residential leaks. The new automated meter reading technology installed by SUD expedites detection of in-home leaks. Beavers explained, “It’s good for customers and for us.”

Beavers pointed to a possible source of new revenue from expansion in the Cooley’s Rift subdivision. Developer Brian Youngblood recently contacted SUD about plans to install infrastructure in 40 lots in the Franklin County section of Cooley’s Rift. Many of the lots in Cooley’s Rift receive water from Monteagle. A 1990s lawsuit ruled the lots in Franklin County fell within SUD’s service area, regardless of whether or not the lots were within the Monteagle city limits.

The board agreed with Beavers that it was prudent for SUD to serve the new customers created by the expanded development rather than relinquish water service privileges to Monteagle. Beavers will contact Youngblood and invite him to submit a request for water service application.

The SUD board meets next on April 26.

SUD Midway Booster Site Selected

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Sept. 22 meeting, the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties received encouraging updates on the Midway pressure boosting station and the constructed wetlands project, two initiatives that had suffered some setbacks.

Commissioner Randall Henley has met repeatedly with affected property owners to select a site for the Midway pressure boosting station. Plans now call for locating the station on the corner of Midway Road and Leaky Pond Road. The location change will slightly increase electrical line costs, SUD manager Ben Beavers said, but more Midway residents will benefit from the increase in water pressure. SUD hopes to complete the project this fall, weather permitting.

Sewanee biology professor Deborah McGrath reported on the constructed wetlands project (being undertaken jointly by the University of the South and the University of Georgia) to examine using wetlands to treat wastewater. Plans call for installing the wetlands at the SUD wastewater treatment plant. The site first proposed had deeper soil, McGrath said. The site finally settled on had shallower soil and surface rock. As a result construction costs increased by $2,000 due to the need to move more dirt. The researchers have decided to scale down the project site from one acre to slightly over one-quarter acre to save money. 

McGrath said she’s pleased by the design revisions. The smaller wetlands will be “easier to manage” and “look more natural,” making it more attractive to visitors. She stressed the goal of “educating people about water and water needs.” Plans call for breaking ground this fall and to begin planting in February. There may be an opportunity for community members to participate in the planting process.

Reviewing operations, Beavers said unaccounted for water loss has decreased to 18 percent from an average of 22–23 percent prior to SUD installing automated meter reading technology (AMR) in 2014. Unaccounted for water loss is the difference between water produced and water registered as passing through customer meters, meaning SUD is not paid for the water. The new AMR meters more accurately record water use.

Beavers’ goal is to reduce unaccounted for water loss to 15 percent. To aid in detecting water leaks in the main service lines, SUD recently installed zone meters in Sewanee Summit and Jump Off. Plans call for a zone meter in Midway, as well. Beavers said the 28 miles of line in the Jump Off community appear to be leak free.

Looking at budget considerations for 2016, Beavers cited two sewer-system related expenses in the capital improvement budget, repairing leaks in the sewer line and rebuilding the Mikell Lane pumping station. A recent video camera inspection of sewer lines revealed numerous leaks. Repairing the sewer line “is going to be a long, expensive process,” Beavers said. To save money, SUD plans to rebuild the Mikell Lane station at a cost of $50,000 rather than replace the station entirely which would cost $200,000. On the operations budget side, Beavers noted an increase in health insurance costs.

Beavers anticipates a 2016 rate increase of 2.5 percent or less, “depending on the capital improvements SUD undertakes.” SUD’s consulting firm Raftelis Financial recommends an annual rate increase of 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent to cover the cost of capital improvement needs.

The SUD board next meets on Oct. 27.

SUD Board Learns About Flawed Meters, Midway Booster Station

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the May 19 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, SUD Manager Ben Beavers told the board that 8 percent of the new meters installed to facilitate computerized meter reading had failed. Beavers also updated the board on the plans to install a pressure-boosting station to increase water pressure in the Midway community.

SUD began installing new meters system-wide last August, in conjunction with the upgrade to automated meter-reading technology. Beavers said the manufacturer recently acknowledged some of the meters had faulty radio transmitters. SUD has replaced 70 flawed meters so far. According to the manufacturer’s warranty, if the failure rate exceeds 5 percent, the company bears labor and fitting-related replacement costs, in addition to supplying replacement meters. Beavers will also request an extended warranty.

Updating the board on plans to install a pressure-boosting station to increase water pressure in Midway, Beavers said he had again encountered difficulty in acquiring the necessary easements. The plan called for the station to be located on Leaky Pond Road.

“We could move it up toward St. James Church,” Beavers said, “but six Midway residents would lose the benefit of the increased water pressure.” Moving the station in the other direction would result in problems with getting overhead electric power to the site, due to trees.

“The good news is the price of the pump and controls has dropped to $26,000,” Beavers said. This could make money available to explore other options like putting the power underground. SUD has $48,000 budgeted for the project.

The board reviewed the design plans for the trial wetlands slated for construction at the SUD wastewater treatment plant, in conjunction with a research project undertaken jointly by the University of the South and the University of Georgia. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has requested additional information from Golder and Associates, the engineering firm in charge of project design. The company is still working out flow and mechanical issues, Beavers said.

On May 19, the firm Sani-Tech began cleaning and video surveying SUD’s sewer lines for possible damage. Residents may observe Sani-Tech crews working in the community over the course of the next three weeks, Beavers said. 

The next meeting of the SUD board is set for June 16, a week earlier than its normally scheduled date.

SUD Ready to Move on Midway Improvements

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer 

“We hope we can go with the original plan,” SUD manager Ben Beavers said, in discussing a pressure-boosting station for the Midway community at the March 24 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties. Beavers also updated the board on the high rate of meter failure for meters installed in conjunction with the automated meter reading (AMR) technology recently implemented by SUD.

Nearly three years ago, SUD set in motion plans to install a much-needed pressure-boosting station in the Midway community. Difficulty in acquiring the necessary easements stalled the project, but Beavers is now optimistic the project can go forward at the original site on Leaky Pond Road.

“We have the surveys, and the easements are drawn up,” Beavers said. Once the easements are signed, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has 30 days to grant approval. Installation will take a week.

SUD did not budget for the pressure boosting station in 2015; the estimated cost is $40,000. Beavers suggested unused funds in the Constructed Wetlands budget could be used for the project.

If SUD cannot acquire the necessary easements for the Leaky Pond Road site, the University is willing to discuss an easement, Beavers said. “We’re considering all options.”

Updating the board on the AMR technology recently installed by SUD, Beavers said the number of residential meters not “communicating” properly had reached 45, which is 25 more than last month. If as many meters fail next month, “we’ll have an issue with the [meter] company,” Beavers said. If the failure rate exceeds 5 percent, the company bears labor and fitting-related replacement costs, in addition to supplying replacement meters. The current failure rate is 3.5 percent.

The faulty meters were read manually, and customers received a revised bill. Customers have up to one year to make catch-up payments if needed, with no interest or late fees.

The SUD board meets next on April 28. 

SUD Seeks Solution for Midway Customers -- Low Water Pressure in Community Continues

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Feb. 24 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, commissioner Randall Henley again raised the issue of low water pressure in the Midway community. “Midway residents feel like they’re being overlooked because they’re off campus,” Henley said.

Commissioner Ken Smith agreed with Henley’s concern.

Nearly three years ago, SUD set in motion plans to install a pressure boosting station in the Midway community. After repeated efforts to get the necessary easements failed, SUD abandoned the project.

SUD manager Ben Beavers said another remedy would be a water tank. To be effective, the tank would need to be elevated 120 feet, Beavers said.

Relocating the pumping station would be the less costly option, Beavers said, but relocating the site will increase expenses for electric power, tree trimming and tree removal. Beavers will talk with the University about relocating the site to University land. If the University agrees to the project, Beavers will contact Duck River Electric about the cost of supplying electric service to the site. Beavers estimated the cost, excluding power and related relocation expenses, at $36,000.

In regular business, new board member Ronnie Hoosier was sworn in to serve a four-year term as SUD commissioner.

The board elected the following slate of officers to serve in 2015: Karen Singer, president; Art Hanson, vice president; and Ken Smith, secretary.

Forestry professor Scott Torreano updated the board on the trial wetlands slated for construction at the SUD wastewater treatment plant in conjunction with a research project undertaken jointly by the University of the South and the University of Georgia. The University signed the licensing agreement allowing the researchers to conduct the project on SUD property. Beavers will present the document to SUD’s attorney, Don Scholes, for final review. Torreano said the design process is well underway, and he anticipates the contract with the construction firm will be signed in the near future. 

Reporting on the automated meter reading technology recently installed by SUD, Beavers said 20 residential meters were not “communicating” properly, and the receiving unit registered the customers’ use as zero. The customers will receive a revised bill and given a year to make catch-up payments, if needed.

With data adjusted to reflect the residential metering error and a software error resulting in inaccurate reporting for two-inch commercial meters, SUD showed a decrease in unaccounted-for water loss in 2014, Beavers said. Unaccounted-for water loss is the difference between water produced and water registered as passing through customer meters, meaning SUD is not paid for the water. SUD is aggressively pursuing leak detection to further reduce unaccounted-for loss.

The SUD board meets next on March 24.