The Bedford County Wastewater Advisory Committee adopted bylaws and rescinded an earlier ex‑officio appointment at its Jan. 8 meeting, then heard a technical briefing from Consolidated Utility District on decentralized "step" wastewater systems and local rules to reduce system failures.

Roger Goodson, general manager of Consolidated Utility District of Rutherford County, and Jason Laxon, CUD assistant director of engineering, told the committee that decentralized "step" systems have allowed development where individual septic fields are impractical but that long‑term performance depends on conservative design and soil suitability. "The number one limiting factor of these systems is your soils," Laxon said, urging Bedford County to require robust soil review and reserve dispersal areas.

CUD described its own experience: the utility said it operates roughly 82 separate decentralized systems and more than 10,000 step tanks, uses 1,500‑gallon tanks to provide buffer capacity, and aims for treatment quality well below state sampling limits. Laxon noted that Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) requires sampling for biological oxygen demand (BOD) with a regulatory threshold of 45; CUD said it designs and operates systems to treat to under 20 and often measures BOD below 5 in recent samples.

The presentation detailed components and lifecycle issues: step tanks (which CUD said typically last 25+ years), pumps (average life about 10 years), alarms and site easements to ensure access. CUD advised PVC for force mains and recommended fencing and signage around drip dispersal areas. The utility cautioned against older recirculating sand filters that were commonly built without concrete basins and whose media can be expensive or scarce to replace; those filters often require full reconstruction when media fail.

On siting and design, CUD said it requires 2,000 square feet of primary soils per home for dispersal at its loading rate and maintains at least 50% reserve soils for future replacement; it said its maximum loading rate is 0.15 gallons per day per square foot, roughly 60% of TDEC's maximum of 0.25. "If you don't have soils, you don't have a system," Laxon said, adding that developers and planners should assume soils change quickly across short distances and that local, independent soil quality review is essential.

Committee members asked about household costs and CUD's approach to rates. CUD said it charges a flat service fee plus a volume charge; using an example of 4,000 gallons at $5 per 1,000 gallons and a $35 flat fee, CUD estimated a typical monthly sewer bill around $55 for customers served by a step system. The utility said it does not require developer bonds but uses a one‑year contractor warranty and heavy inspection during construction.

The committee requested copies of CUD's existing specifications and the draft rules CUD is updating; CUD agreed to share those documents and to answer follow‑up questions. The committee scheduled its next meeting for Feb. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

The committee took several procedural votes before and after the presentation: adopting the meeting agenda, approving the minutes of the prior meeting, approving the bylaws as distributed, and passing a motion to rescind a prior appointment of Eddie Price as an ex‑officio adviser. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

The advisory committee said it will use CUD materials as a starting point while it develops local rules and recommended engaging an independent soil scientist and a knowledgeable design reviewer to protect long‑term performance and limit future failures.