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Resident warns of potential federal Clean Water Act lawsuit, urges county to question water authority
Summary
At the Aug. 18 Wilson County Commission meeting, resident Ken Young urged commissioners to seek legal answers from the county's Water and Wastewater Authority after citing multiple consent orders, fines and a notice from the Southern Environmental Law Center alleging Clean Water Act violations.
Ken Young, a Lebanon resident, told the Wilson County Commission on Aug. 18 that ongoing problems with the Water and Wastewater Authority of Wilson County have escalated to the point that the Southern Environmental Law Center has notified the authority and its operator that they could be sued for alleged long-standing violations of the Clean Water Act.
Young told commissioners he assembled a packet for them and said the county is already seeing enforcement actions: "Sunset Harbor recently drew a $50,000 fine," he said, and he said the Shop Springs and Ford projects are now operating under Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation consent agreements. He added that the treatment system at Ridgewater Estates is "a problem for every commissioner and for every citizen."
Why it matters: Young said the SELC notice and the consent agreements could trigger federal litigation if no settlement is reached. "If a settlement is not reached in 60 days, the water authority is gonna find itself in a federal court answering very difficult questions," he said, adding that a costly settlement could pass expenses to customers and could bankrupt the operator, identified in his remarks as Adonis.
Young questioned vendor choice and oversight. He asked why so many small ("step") systems are failing, why the authority had not changed vendors, why it continued to promote the same vendor(s), and why commissioners had not demanded better performance or accountability. He urged the commission to obtain legal advice about recall procedures and to summon the water authority chair to answer questions in the commission room.
Discussion vs. decision: The commission did not take formal action during the public comment period on Young's requests. The record shows commissioners received the comment and then proceeded to other agenda items; no vote or staff directive to produce a report or summon the water authority chair was recorded in the transcript of the meeting.
Context and next steps: Young framed his remarks as a request for transparency and accountability and said he would answer questions from the commission. The county transcript does not show any immediate staff assignment, a vote, or a timeline for follow-up in response to his request.
Ending: Young asked commissioners to "get your lawyer's advice on recall" and to bring the water authority chair before the commission. No formal direction or motion to do so appears in the meeting record.
