In December, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam released the findings of the TN H20 Plan, which outlines a blueprint for the state to address its dual issues of protecting future water supplies and upgrading wastewater systems. According to the report, the state will need $15.6 billion to address these issues.
In a statement to the Nashville Tennessean, Bob Freudenthal, executive director of the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts, stated, “Our infrastructure has been lagging in upkeep, maintenance and growth.”[1] He explained that pipes and pumps associated with wastewater systems have a life expectancy of 30 – 40 years and many throughout the state were installed in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Without regular maintenance, much of the equipment needs to be replaced which accounts for a large percentage of the high assessment. Over $11 billion of the estimated costs outlined in the report are attributed to “’repair and replacement’ costs for sewer and drinking water systems statewide over the next 23 years.”[2]
Another issue contributing to Tennessee’s water problems is population growth. Many areas of the state have experienced tremendous growth which signifies increased stress on the sewer systems. The state report estimated that over $4 billion would be necessary to address growing capacity concerns related to the population growth and, “roughly one in five municipal systems are under some form of moratorium because of excess overflows.”[3] Added to that is climate change which has meant increased levels of rainfall in Tennessee, only adding to the list stressors on the failing systems.
Due to the overwhelming size and cost of the endeavor, the authors of the report suggest that “state budgeting would also be necessary to TN H2O’s long -term success,” and that the appropriate state organizations would have to be accountable for “implementing the recommendations and identifying specific funding levels.”[4]
[1] https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/07/tn-water-infrastructure-needs-15-6-billion-repairs-gr Reicher, Mike. “TN Water Infrastructure Needs $15.6 Billion for Repairs, Growth: State Report.” The Tennessean, The Tennessean, 10 Dec. 2018, www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/07/tn-water-infrastructure-needs-15-6-billion-repairs-growth-state-report-tn-h-20-plan-bill-haslam/2236897002/.
[2] https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/07/tn-water-infrastructure-needs-15-6-billion-repairs-gr Reicher, Mike. “TN Water Infrastructure Needs $15.6 Billion for Repairs, Growth: State Report.” The Tennessean, The Tennessean, 10 Dec. 2018, www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/07/tn-water-infrastructure-needs-15-6-billion-repairs-growth-state-report-tn-h-20-plan-bill-haslam/2236897002/.
[3] https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/07/tn-water-infrastructure-needs-15-6-billion-repairs-gr Reicher, Mike. “TN Water Infrastructure Needs $15.6 Billion for Repairs, Growth: State Report.” The Tennessean, The Tennessean, 10 Dec. 2018, www.tennessean.com/story/news/2018/12/07/tn-water-infrastructure-needs-15-6-billion-repairs-growth-state-report-tn-h-20-plan-bill-haslam/2236897002/.
[4] “The Plan.” Tennessee State Government – TN.gov, Nov. 2018, www.tn.gov/environment/program-areas/wr-water-resources/tn-h2o/the-plan.html.
Photo Credit: “Cha Ching,” Shawn Carpenter, Flickr