Breakdown on how water grants will be used in our area of southeast Tennessee
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) is handing out grants to improve drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems in our area.
The projects are key to growth in a community.
But the communities have to apply for them.
“As Tennessee continues to experience unprecedented growth, we’re prioritizing critical infrastructure investments that will address the needs of Tennesseans and give local communities the resources needed to thrive,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “We look forward to the improvements these projects will bring, and we commend the communities who have gone through the application process.”
Here is what the TDEC grants will do in our area:
Collaborative Grants
Bledsoe County, $2,119,000
Bledsoe County, in collaboration with Van Buren County, the City of Dayton, the Northwest Utility District, and the Fall Creek Falls Utility District, will use ARP funds to reduce water loss in the county. Projects include the relocation of water mains in the City of Dayton, construction of a new 300,000-gallon water tank with the Northwest Utility District, and repairs to Fall Creek Falls Utility District Water Treatment Plant.
City of Etowah, $1,977,313
The City of Etowah, in collaboration with McMinn County and the Etowah Utilities Board, will leverage ARP and State Revolving Fund (SRF) dollars to address critical needs and non-compliance, and develop an Asset Management Plan. Etowah’s projects include improvements to the existing pump station in order to reduce wastewater overflows in the system and address plant capacity issues.
Franklin County, $3,737,963
Franklin County, in collaboration with the Belvidere Rural Utility District, the Center Grove – Winchester Springs Utility District, and the Sewanee Utility District, will use ARP funds to create comprehensive Asset Management Plans and modernize, improve, and strengthen water infrastructure in the county. Projects include the implementation of well-performing asset management programs, the replacement of lead service lines, and water loss reduction efforts.
Marion County, $1,708,249
Marion County, in collaboration with the Town of Jasper, the Town of Kimball, and the City of South Pittsburg, will use ARP funds to address critical needs and replace aging infrastructure. Projects include connecting water lines across the county through the installation of a new 12-inch water transmission line. The new water line connections will reduce breaks and leaks and control water loss if a major break or incident with the existing line were to occur.
City of Niota, $1,450,828
The City of Niota, in collaboration with McMinn County, will use ARP funds to improve their drinking water and wastewater systems. Wastewater projects include the replacement of four Wastewater Treatment Plant aerators, and the drinking water projects include the replacement of a 70-year-old water tank and its associated lines.
Non-Collaborative Grants
City of Athens, $2,371,902
The City of Athens will use ARP funds to maintain the city’s municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit and address critical needs. Projects include the purchase of an asset management platform for the MS4 network, the completion of a stormwater master plan, and an MS4 utility feasibility study for adoption. The city will also engage in grey and green improvements to the primary MS4 drainage line in order to reduce sedimentation.
City of Collegedale, $1,403,121
The City of Collegedale will use ARP funds to modernize an aged pump station and develop a comprehensive Asset Management Plan. The pump station modernization project will consist of a thorough and complete analysis and assessment of current conditions and a recommendation and design of new system components. The Asset Management Plan will be created on a Geographic Information System (GIS) based platform, and a comprehensive system base map will be developed by digitizing existing paper maps.
City of Copperhill, $624,579
The City of Copperhill will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and address areas of significant non-compliance. Projects include the replacement of pumps, motors, panelboards, sewage grinders, electrical, and sump pump and float controls, as well as piping and valving.
Cumberland County – $5,680,518
Cumberland County will use ARP funds to develop Asset Management Plans and complete 12 projects from four utility districts which address drinking water needs from every geographic region of the county. Projects include the replacement of asbestos cement water lines, water line instillation, rehabilitation, and extensions, standpipe constructions, and water tank rehabilitation.
City of Decherd, $804,760
The City of Decherd will use ARP funds to modernize, improve, and strengthen water infrastructure in Decherd. Project goals are to reduce water loss and modernize aging infrastructure through the repair and replacement of outdated, failing pipes.
Town of Graysville, $731,440
The City of Graysville will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and modernize aged water infrastructure. Projects include the replacement of 6-inch water lines along State Highway 303 in order to improve the city’s drinking water system through reducing continual breaks, water loss, and maintenance costs.
City of Lakesite, $677,865
The City of Lakesite will use ARP funds to make improvements to the community’s stormwater system. Lakesite’s stormwater project includes the reconstruction of a culvert to address water quality issues and protect the water quality of a local tributary.
McMinn County, $1,313,091
McMinn County will use ARP funds to develop Asset Management Plans and address significant non-compliance. Projects include IT infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, GIS system mapping, the repair and replacement of aged water lines, and inter-utility water interconnections. The county will also replace an aged water tank.
Town of Monteagle, $1,155,086
The town of Monteagle will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and address critical wastewater system needs. Repairs will be made to the sanitary sewer system in order to mitigate excessive infiltration and inflow during wet weather events.
Polk County, $3,696,209
Polk County will use ARP funds to address critical needs, including water loss and infiltration and inflow reduction. Polk County will replace the booster station, storage tank, and zone meters in Isabella areas and replace and upsize failing and aged lines throughout the system including 11,200 linear feet of the Benton water system. Additionally, the City of Copperhill in Polk County will video inspect their entire sewer system in order to determine the infiltration and inflow locations within their sewer system.
Rhea County, $1,869,000
Rhea County will use ARP funds to develop an Asset Management Plan and modernize aged infrastructure. Projects include several water line connections and the construction of a new water tank.
City of Ridgeside, $583,803
The City of Ridgeside will use ARP funds to address significant non-compliance and issues identified in a State Consent Decree. Projects will address excessive infiltration and inflow and chronic sanitary sewer overflows and include the rehabilitation of approximately 1,200 feet of pipelines, 10 manholes, and 60 service laterals within identified priority basins.
Sequatchie County, $1,655,000
Sequatchie County will use ARP funds to address critical needs, including aging infrastructure and water loss. Sequatchie County will replace two water tanks, reducing water loss, and make improvements to low water pressure due to the elevation of the pump station on John Henry Lewis Road.
Town of Tellico Plains, $1,519,768
The town of Tellico Plains will use ARP funds to address critical needs and significant non-compliance. The town will install zone meters to identify areas with excessive water loss and address critical water treatment plant improvement needs. Water plant improvements include the construction of a new building for the plant and updating plant plumbing and electrical components.
