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Commission advances update to groundwater fee authority, citing decades‑old fee schedule
Summary
An ordinance to update fee-setting authority and permit fees for well and septic permitting—unchanged for nearly 30 years—moved forward after public comment urging stronger groundwater oversight and noting Shelby County pumps large volumes from the aquifer.
The commission advanced an ordinance intended to revise Chapter 42, Article 2 of the code to clarify the rate‑making authority of the Shelby County Groundwater Quality Control Board and to update permit fees that have not been materially changed in about 30 years. Advocates for groundwater protection told the commission the county pumps orders of magnitude more water from the aquifer than neighboring jurisdictions and needs improved fee structure and oversight.
Sarah Houston, executive director of Protect Our Aquifer, urged a favorable vote and emphasized contamination history in Collierville and South Memphis, noting the county "pump[s] up to 200,000,000 gallons of water per day." Commissioners asked procedural questions about the groundwater board’s membership and the required public hearing process for fee adoption; Houston and staff explained the well code process and state review steps.
The ordinance passed on second reading and will proceed through required steps, including public hearings and state board review for any fee updates.
