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Dade County water authority details multimillion‑dollar upgrades, says leaks limit available supply
Summary
The South Dade Water & Sewer Authority told a joint forum it is authorized to withdraw 3.8 million gallons per day but currently bills about 2 million gpd while pumping ~3 million due to distribution losses; officials proposed line replacements, a Lookout Mountain feed (approx. $12M) and loop projects to limit service disruptions.
Elizabeth Dillard, general manager of the Dade County Water and Sewer Authority, told the joint meeting the authority is authorized by state regulators to withdraw 3.8 million gallons per day (combined surface and well sources) but is losing a large share of that water in the distribution system.
Dillard said the authority is billing roughly 2 million gallons per day while pumping about 3 million gpd, with distribution losses estimated in the 30% range: “As we repair this infrastructure, what we’re going to see is our water loss go down,” she said, adding that leak mitigation and main replacements are the first priority to free capacity for growth.
Planned projects described at the session included a proposed 12‑inch ductile iron main up Lookout Mountain (rough order $12 million), a loop between McBryar Road and Saddle Club Road to reduce shutdowns affecting Davis Elementary (approx. $1 million), assessment of under‑sized mains and replacement of galvanized pipe, and routine water‑tank maintenance. Officials noted alternatives such as HDPE pipe may offer material cost savings of roughly 40% in selected corridors but require technical review.
Authority members also discussed pursuing GEFA loans and the state Water First Community designation to secure better interest rates and financing terms for those capital needs. The group said some regional interconnects exist or are being explored — Tennessee American, Walker County and other neighboring utilities have been discussed as contingency or mutual‑aid sources — but any import arrangements require agreements and capacity upgrades on both sides.
No regulatory changes or emergency restrictions were adopted at the meeting; officials said they will prioritize leak detection and targeted main replacement while pursuing grant and low‑interest loan options.
