Piperton adopts new Sewer Use Ordinance as TDEC reviews final edits

The Piperton Board of Mayor and Commissioners voted unanimously May 19 to adopt Ordinance No. 419‑26, a new Sewer Use Ordinance intended to govern what may be discharged into the city sewer system and to permit Piperton to operate wastewater facilities independent of its current arrangements.

City Manager Steve Steinbach told the board the ordinance is required before Piperton can discharge wastewater through any city‑owned treatment facility and that the draft is a broadly used, standard document now under review by the Tennessee Department of Environmental Conservation (TDEC). "This document governs what goes into your sewer system," Public Works Director Richard Mills said during the hearing, noting the ordinance addresses both commercial and industrial penalties and will be revised if TDEC requests changes.

The ordinance was considered in a public hearing recessed into the meeting; no members of the audience asked questions during the hearing. Commissioner Joel Townsend asked staff to prepare a plain‑language bullet list that distinguishes city responsibilities from homeowner obligations under the new code so residents—particularly those on private septic systems—understand when and how requirements would apply. "If you are on septic and there is no city sewer around, then this document doesn’t affect you at all," City Manager Steinbach told the audience, and Public Works Director Mills confirmed tap fees apply only when a resident connects to city sewer.

After the hearing, Vice‑Mayor Mike Binkley moved to approve Ordinance No. 419‑26 on second reading; Commissioner Joel Townsend seconded and the motion passed with all affirmative votes.

The Board directed staff to incorporate any TDEC edits and to circulate the final posted ordinance along with the homeowner/city responsibility bulletin before publishing it on the city website. The city said it will send the final draft to commissioners for review prior to posting.