The condition of and best practices for Tennessee wastewater systems [electronic resource] / Leah Eldridge, et al.

Abstract: This TACIR report on the operations and financing of Tennessee wastewater utilities was prepared in response to a request from County Executive and Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) commission member Jeff Huffman. Based on requests from other TACIR commissioners, the scope of the study was expanded to include looking at the governance structures of wastewater utilities, whether the members of their governing bodies are compensated, whether the compensation includes benefits and staffing issues at wastewater utilities. The Commission found that Tennessee has invested heavily in upgrading its wastewater infrastructure, but some systems are struggling to maintain their aging equipment while meeting growing service demands. It is likely that Tennessee's wastewater systems will need to spend billions to pay for the repair, replacement and expansion of their infrastructure. Some systems are having difficulty attracting and retaining certified wastewater operators, in part because of an aging workforce and difficulty attracting younger workers. Retention is also an issue for some systems, as operators often leave for better-paying jobs at other wastewater systems.