The Murfreesboro City Council has approved a $30.5 million expansion of the Sinking Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant, Phase 4D, which will allow the waste water plant to process 24 million gallons per day from the current 16 million. The plant is reaching maximum capacity and the expansion is expected to be completed by 2018.
"Murfreesboro's Sinking Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant receives all the wastewater generated by the City in compliance with state and federal standards," said Sinking Creek Plant Manager John Strickland. "New permit restrictions forced modifications to Sinking Creek that the plant isn't designed for but through tireless dedication and observation, plant staff was still able to achieve new waste water effluent standards."
The achievement not only enabled the Sinking Creek Plant to gain a new permit but also earn professional recognition. The Sinking Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant recently received The William Hunter Owen Award in 2014 as an Outstanding Wastewater Treatment Plant from the Tennessee Water and Waster Association. A 3-minute CityTV newsbreak video highlighting the achievement can be viewed on You Tube at http://youtu.be/iNssYjuB1sk.
The $30.5 million expansion project will be funded through debt service on a 20-year fixed loan at 1.4 percent annual interest. The Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department received 6 bids for the Sinking Creek Plant expansion on January 8, 2015, with the low bid awarded to 3D Enterprises after review of six proposals by engineering firm Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR).
The City Council also approved plans for an $8.3 million dollar Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system. Under the contract awarded to United Systems and Software, (USS) Inc., 27,000 wireless meters will be installed within MWSD's service area over a 2-year period. Sometimes called "smart" water meter systems, AMI is designed to make the measurement of water usage more effective and efficient.
"The project has a high return on investment," said Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department Director Darren Gore. "AMI will enhance customer service with early leak notification and make water management more efficient through electronic rather than manual meter reading."
Water loss and inefficient water management is an issue that affects everyone. Inaccurate meter readings are subsidized by all rate payers. The new AMI system will help eliminate human error and provide more frequent readings by sending water usage data directly to the billing office. When abnormal usage is detected, the new technology can catch leaks more quickly. AMI will also allow customers to start finding areas to reduce water consumption and practice conservation.
AMI is part of MWSD's enhanced customer service through an Information Technology Systems Integration that included development and installation of a new Customer Information System (CIS). MWSD went "live" with credit card payment through EZ-Pay in September 2012, allowing on-line and over the counter payments. In July 2014, the new system allowed customers to make payments using credit cards and debit cards that post in real-time. The new service also allows customers to track account transaction and usage history.
