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TACIR approves final wastewater systems report, warns billions needed to modernize aging infrastructure
Summary
The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations approved a final report finding widespread compliance and capacity problems in wastewater systems and recommending asset management, blended funding approaches and use of federal infrastructure funds; staff noted some decentralized drip systems show 51% noncompliance.
The Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations approved a final report outlining the condition, governance and financing challenges facing the state’s wastewater systems.
Miss Moffitt, a TACIR research associate who presented the report, said Tennessee has made significant investments in wastewater infrastructure but “some systems still struggle to maintain their aging equipment while meeting growing service demands,” and that utilities “will likely need to spend billions to pay for the repair, replacement, and expansion of their infrastructure.” The report also flagged that 51 percent of the decentralized drip-dispersal systems reviewed showed some form of noncompliance, and that many systems are operating under enforcement orders or sewer moratoria.
The report was requested by County Executive Jeff Huffman and expanded to include governance structures and board compensation. TACIR staff recommended asset-management planning, adoption of the EPA’s efficient utility management frameworks, and mixing funding sources — grants, loans and bonds — to match project scale. Miss Moffitt also cited TDEC’s recent survey of decentralized systems and its findings that hydraulic overload and maintenance shortfalls are common causes of poor performance.
During questions, commissioners pressed staff on enforcement and operational responses if drip-dispersal systems fail. Miss Moffitt said TDEC typically negotiates corrective plans with utilities and may place noncompliant systems on moratoriums that stop new connections; ultimately the EPA could intervene if a state cannot enforce remedies. Members asked about possible contaminants such as PFAS; staff said that specific testing for PFAS was not part of the TDEC drip-dispersal survey but that TDEC is monitoring PFAS statewide.
After discussion, Chairman Yeager moved to approve the final report; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. TACIR staff said the draft report will be published for review and that the commission’s recommendations focus on scaling asset-management work and aligning financing tools with local circumstances.
