Reporting on operations at the Aug. 22 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties, SUD manager Ben Beavers said the utility recently repaired a “big leak” in a water main located in the creek in the area of North Carolina Avenue. “There’s over 15,000 feet of old cast iron pipe in town,” Beavers said in the subsequent discussion about the need for replacing old water lines in Sewanee.

Water line leaks contribute to unaccounted for water loss, the difference between the amount of water treated at the plant and amount registered as sold on customer meters, meaning SUD isn’t paid for the water. SUD is in the process of installing zone meters to detect leaks in the outlying areas. “Zone meters aren’t useful in town,” Beavers said, “because the water runs in more than one direction.”

Beavers identified Florida Ave., South Carolina Ave., and Tennessee Ave. as the areas most seriously in need of attention. He plans to meet with SUD’s engineer to review possible remedies. Pipe bursting, expanding the old pipe and inserting new pipe, can be done without digging up the line. “Pipe bursting costs about 40 percent more than digging up the line to replace it,” Beavers said, but the cost difference can vary depending on how many customers are connected to the affected section.

Beavers noted SUD’s cash on hand was 20 percent above Aug. of 2016. He anticipates the money being spent on replacing the old cast iron water lines.

SUD’s unaccounted for water loss has decreased significantly in the past few years, dropping from a year-to-date average of 26 percent in July of 2014 to 21 percent in July of 2017. In addition to installing zone meters to address the problem, SUD recently stepped up hydrant maintenance and in 2014 replaced customer meters, many of which were old and giving false-low readings.

An added benefit of the new customer meters is technology enabling SUD to generate a report showing customers’ daily use if customers question their bill, Beavers said. When customers see a report showing what day their water use was high they can usually correlate the high use with some activity like pressure washing the house, Beavers explained.

Turning to another technological consideration, Beavers cited problems related to the desktop server linked to the office computer. He recommended employing a server based in Hillsboro, Tenn. To cover the cost of equipment and setup, Beavers proposed shifting $5,000 budgeted for a new four wheeler into the office computer budget. The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) four wheeler was repaired, Beavers said, making it unnecessary to purchase a new four wheeler. The repairs only cost $330.

The board approved Beavers’ rebudgeting request.

The board reviewed the new adjustment policy that recently went into effect. Only residential customers enrolled in the leak insurance program qualify for adjustments to their water bill due to high usage resulting from leaks. Residential customers are automatically enrolled in the program unless they request to opt out. Commercial customers do not qualify for leak insurance and water bill adjustments, Beavers pointed out. Like all customers, however, commercial customers qualify for an adjustment to their sewer bill if they can demonstrate leaked water did not enter the sewer system.

Commenting on the high rainfall, nine and a half inches in July, Beavers said inflow and infiltration of rain water into the sewer system had correspondingly increased raising the lagoon levels. To draw down lagoon levels before the fall rainy season, the WWTP is spraying the maximum amount allowed daily on Monday through Friday, Beavers said. If necessary, the WWTP could also spray on weekends.

The board meets next on Tuesday, Sept. 26.