by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

At the Oct. 10 meeting, the Sewanee Utility District Board of Commissioners reviewed the rules governing the upcoming commissioner election. During discussion, the board grappled with the question of capacity concerns at the Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) resulting from two proposed residential developments.

In January, SUD will elect a Franklin County Commissioner. Board President Charlie Smith will seek reelection. The board must present a slate of three candidates. SUD customers wishing to appear on the ballot should contact the SUD office and ask to be added to the slate. SUD customers can also have their name added to the slate by presenting a petition signed by 10 SUD customers. Voting will begin when the slate of candidates is approved at the December meeting and will continue until Jan. 16, 2024, during regular business hours at the SUD office. Write-in votes are allowed. The board recently received word the state legislature modified the rules allowing commissioners of rural utilities to serve unlimited consecutive terms, allowing Smith to seek reelection. Smith will verify the accuracy of the ruling on term limits with the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts attorney.

Looking to the future, Smith said two proposed residential developments in SUD’s service area could stress the capacity of the WWTP. An 18-unit apartment complex on University property is being considered and a residential development on St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School property with more than 100 lots. “If the University and the St. Andrew’s project come through, we would be pushing the sewage treatment plant to the max, which would mean we would probably be forced to go to drip irrigation. That would buy us some more square footage, some more acreage so far as the state [regulations] go. I don’t know how much that would actually get us, but it would be pretty significant as you must have a pretty good buffer with a spray field.” Spray application requires a buffer to prevent overspray onto adjoining property. [See Messenger, July 21, 2023]

Commissioner Doug Cameron commented once the WWTP reached 80 percent capacity, the state required a utility to “come up with a plan.”

Discussing the pros and cons of drip application of wastewater versus spray application, Commissioner Clay Yeatman pointed out with spray application there were benefits from evaporation. Cameron agreed, but noted spray application was “out of synch” with student presence, since the primary benefits of transpiration occurred in the summer when heavy foliage covered the trees.

“We have a very finite area at the WWTP. There’s really no room to expand,” Smith said. “The St. Andrew’s project is more growth in one place than I’ve seen in serving eight years on the board.”

“SUD had to tell the engineers the utility could supply water and sewer treatment for the projects,” Cameron said. “It would push us close to the 80 percent capacity limit.”

Taking up another challenge, Smith said SUD was having difficulty finding an auditor. Of the half dozen firms SUD contacted, one declined to serve as SUD’s auditor, and the others did not reply. The search to identify an auditor will continue.

The board meets next on Nov. 21.