Current Events
-Turkey Creek Plant Expansion
Questions and Answers
-Links of Interest
Turkey Creek Plant Expansion
Questions and Answers
Why do you want to expand the Plant?
The plant was originally built in 1974 at the current location
and the last expansion was complete in 1995. Today, we serve
26,000 sewer accounts and the number of connections to the system
continues to increase. This growth results from people moving
into the area, and from our efforts to extend sewer service into
subdivisions that were originally equipped with septic systems
and drainfields. Simply put, it is time to expand again.
Why don’t you use new technology,
instead of expanding the site?
A well-respected and experienced engineering firm designed
our treatment plant. The technology being used is the best
for the conditions in our community. It is a modern system
that removes a high percentage of pollutants over a wide
flow range for a reasonable cost. The process removes solids
and transfer large amounts of oxygen to the water with moderate
power consumption. New technologies such as membrane filters
are being developed, but they are normally additions onto
the end of an aerobic system like ours.
Could you build another plant
in another location?
That would be possible. We could find another site, and
possibly get permitted by the State. But there would
be local resistance and again we would probably have
to condemn the property causing disruption in another
community. We would also have to condemn property to
connect our collection system to the new plant site.
It would be expensive for our ratepayers, and some duplication
of functions would be involved. Expanding the existing
plant is the most economical and least disruptive to
our customers and community.
Could FUD postpone the expansion
a few years, it doesn’t seem to be an emergency yet?
Design and construction of the expansion will take several
years. Immediate attention needs to be given to the project
so that we can maintain environmental compliances, help
improve water quality in the Tennessee River, and meet
the service needs of a growing community.
Are you expanding the plant
to serve the people of Loudon County?
No, we currently only serve about 25 sewer customers
in Loudon County. The need for the expansion to our existing
wastewater treatment facility is to serve existing and
future customers in Knox County not a few in Loudon County
as some have suggested.
Will the plant expansion pump
more sewer into the lake and harm the quality of water?
No, the plant does not produce sewage, and a larger plant
does not produce more sewage. The plant only treats what
our community produces, and our community is growing.
The efficient operation of an adequately sized plant
does a better job, and improves water quality in the
river. If it is undersized, water quality in the Tennessee
River will be adversely affected.
Inadequate sewage treatment facilities are only one cause
of water quality problems. Stormwater runoff is another
major factor. Every rainfall washes lawn chemicals, roadside
debris, oil, gas, erosion from construction sites, and
parking lot trash into the river. We all need to do whatever
we can to protect our nation’s waterways.
Will a larger plant produce more odor?
No, A properly sized plant actually produces less odor
than an overloaded one will.
Return to top of page
Links of Interest
"A victory for
progress and historic preservation"
Utility, Concord farm owners reach agreement on $19M sewer
plant expansion.
Letter to our customers
EPA
- Sanitary Sewer Overflows
National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System FAQ
EPA -Why control Sanitary Sewer Overflows?
American Rivers Report - Tennessee River
Top 10 most “endangered” rivers in North America.
News Sentinel Article-
Tennessee River on at-risk list
9/24
Frank Cagle Column
Indianappolis
sewer article from the Department of Homeland Security
Return to top of page
