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Water, sanitation and biosolids plans aim to keep utilities reliable and reduce landfill costs
Summary
Water and sanitation staff outlined FY‑27 personnel and operations increases, lower capital needs after major ARPA projects, water and sewer capital priorities (mains, pump stations, chemical building), and a biosolids reuse plan to reduce landfill disposal costs and explore blended Class‑A product options.
Michelle Hatcher, director of Water Management, told the committee the department is focused on proactive operations, equipment maintenance and preparing rate‑funded capital to support the new South clean water plant. She summarized proposed FY‑27 changes: personnel increases of roughly $700,000 (5.5%), operations up about 6%, and a large capital decrease compared with FY‑26 because major ARPA‑funded projects are concluding.
Key capital priorities include design and future construction for a new water main loop ahead of the South plant, rehabilitation of aging pump stations, and a chemical building replacement at the water treatment plant to separate and safely house modern chemical supplies and containment. Staff noted some capital timing depends on easements and grant/loan processes (for example, potential EPA loan/grant financing related to plant work).
Sanitation and environmental services reported high service volumes this year (more than 2.2 million service points collected and about 2,400 tons collected in a recent storm cleanup) and described FY‑27 fleet replacement requests (several trucks and a mini packer) and a proposed tech‑support position to support expanded routes and satellite recycling locations.
On biosolids, staff described pilot blending with compost and early testing that showed roughly a 50/50 biosolids/compost mix produced a favorable nutrient profile and germination in preliminary tests; current total solids of biosolids are about 25%. Staff said landfill disposal costs are about $65 per ton and that a beneficial‑reuse facility could reduce disposal costs and create a potential revenue stream but would require land and further testing to set drying and processing targets.
Committee members asked about purchased water costs (Harperth Valley Utility District purchases were in the $4.4–5.0 million range in recent years) and capacity planning tied to future plant operations. Staff said potable purchase budget for FY‑26 is north of $5 million and noted plans to reduce purchased water by treating more local reclaimed water as the South plant comes online.
Staff will return with refined capital timing, grant/loan updates and specific PRs for vehicle and equipment purchases.
