The Trousdale County facility board unanimously approved a new sewer-discharge metering and partial-discharge policy at its Nov. 25 meeting, a measure officials said will let certain customers—such as agricultural users and commercial haulers—be billed only for sewer usage that actually reaches the sewer system.

Board members discussed a draft policy that staff compiled and that included redline recommendations from the department's attorney, Mike Walls. The policy creates a formal ‘‘partial-discharge’’ customer class, requires customers seeking an exemption to purchase and install a dedicated discharge meter, and sets out calculation methods and billing procedures (the draft refers to specifics in sections 4, 5 and 8). The department will collect meter data and verify whether a customer’s sewer billing should be adjusted.

Proponents said the policy clarifies a process the board did not previously have in place and lets the utility offer relief in narrowly defined circumstances. One board member noted that customers who purchase a discharge meter will still carry the meter purchase cost. The board approved the policy by voice vote; the minutes do not record a roll-call tally.

The board asked staff to follow up on implementation details and timing. Staff said the exemption would be reflected on bills beginning in the new year, noting that billing is run one month behind.