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Water Resources Board: 2024 sewer allocation report finds system largely solvent but local hot spots remain
Summary
Staff told the Water Resources Board that systemwide sewer capacity is sound after recent upgrades, but several local "hot spots" still limit new connections. Major projects (Cherry Lane, WERF upgrades, County Farm Road) together account for tens of millions in planned spending to add capacity.
The Water Resources Board on Aug. 26 heard the fifth annual sanitary sewer allocation report, in which staff said the system is "in good shape" overall but flagged several local capacity "hot spots" that restrict new connections.
Valerie, presenting the report, told the board: "As far as executive summary, we are in good shape." The presentation laid out how recent capital work and sewer rehabilitation have reduced infiltration and inflow while allowing new connections in many basins.
The report identified pockets of constrained capacity in areas including the Memorial Boulevard corridor east of Compton Road and Dejointt Lane, Joby Jackson Parkway/Buchanan-And-Elam assessment district, portions of East Main Street and North Highway 96, and the County Farm Road basin. Staff said these areas will require targeted upgrades or limits on permitted densities until additional capacity is brought online.
Valerie outlined major capital projects that together increase available connections: the Cherry Lane package (gravity sewer, three new pump stations and force mains) is shown in materials at about $33.3 million; current wet-weather and Headworks upgrades at the wastewater reclamation facility (WERF) were listed at roughly $16.4 million; and the board was shown a total program of upgrades of about $62.8 million, with roughly $12.8 million already spent and the remainder to be funded and scheduled. Staff said the WERF wet-weather improvements are expected to be completed around May 2026 and that the County Farm Road pump station was added to the pump station improvement task order to free up additional capacity there.
On system scale, the presenter said the utility serves a little more than 80,000 sewer connections and that the modeled "2b" scenario with planned improvements would add roughly 11,000 connections of capacity compared with the as-is condition. Staff also said only 13 properties or projects had placed deposits to reserve capacity under the sewer-allocation ordinance.
Board members and staff discussed how upgrades and potential future expansions relate to development approvals. Valerie said planning staff has been asked to limit density in certain hot-spot areas (for example, "only allow up to 4 single-family units per acre" in one corridor) until capacity improves. Darren and others noted that some pump stations (including County Farm Road) already include physically built space for future wet wells, which could simplify future upgrades.
The report included technical reminders about infiltration (groundwater entering pipes) and inflow (stormwater entering at discrete points) and showed long-term declines in measured infiltration/inflow after rehabilitation spending. Staff also summarized the allocation model and monitoring basins used to decide where connections remain available and where restrictions are necessary.
Board members asked for follow-up on several items; staff agreed to provide an update next month on negotiations with TDEC and on model details for Joby Jackson/County Farm Road basins. No formal board action or vote on the allocation report was recorded during the meeting; the report was presented for board review and discussion.
The board packet and presentation also listed several related planning and capital figures (estimated project totals, connections added under various scenarios, and maps of hot spots) that staff said are available in the meeting materials. Staff recommended continued emphasis on sewer rehabilitation, targeted pump-station upgrades and progress on the WERF wet-weather work to maintain capacity as growth continues.
Looking ahead, staff and board members discussed participation in an interjurisdictional water allocation study being advanced by Consolidated Utility District (CUD) and others; board members described that study as separate from sewer allocation but relevant to long-term regional growth planning.
The board did not take a formal vote on the allocation report itself; staff said they would return with updates and requested actions as necessary.
