The Murfreesboro Water & Sewer Department and the Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Board will gather for an official groundbreaking ceremony, marking the new Sinking Creek Plant Expansion. The event will be on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at their Blanton Drive location in Murfreesboro.

In February WGNS learned that the Murfreesboro City Council 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. The groundbreaking ceremony on September 22nd is for that expansion.

The employees at the Sinking Creek water treatment plant recently received an award. On May, 7, 2015, Ma yor Shane McFarland recognized the team of employees with the STARS award for Outstanding Performance.

"Water is a precious resource," said Mayor McFarland. "Without water we can't survive. We want to recognize the importance of the hard work and dedication of the Sinking Creek team for making sure that our City received certification under challenging circumstances."

The award stemmed from the team's performance in biological nutrient removal, specifically phosphorous and nitrate. While most people don't understand the science behind wastewater treatment, City Water & Sewer Department Director Darren Gore emphasized that what the Plant achieved was a "significant accomplishment."

In essence, the Sinking Creek Operations Team achieved a goal that even state regulators doubted could be done with the Sinking Creek Plant.

"The State of Tennessee a few years ago changed the goal line which required the Sinking Creek Plant to meet a whole new set of standards, including a new phosphorus rule, said John Strickland, Sinking Creek Wastewater Plant Manager. "The Sinking Creek Plant is not designed to treat phosphorous."

Who: City of Murfreesboro administrators, the Water & Sewer Department and Water & Sewer Board officials, including Mayor Shane McFarland, Assistant City Manager Jim Crumley, Murfreesboro Water & Sewer Board Chair John Sant Amour Jr., Water & Sewer Department Director Darren Gore, former Director Joe Kirchner, Sinking Creek Plant Manager John Strickland, and consultants from Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. (SSR).

What: Officials will break ground on the new $30.5 million expansion of the Sinking Creek Plant to the Murfreesboro community. The Water & Sewer Board Meeting will follow the ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

When: 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015.

Where: Sinking Creek Plant Expansion / 2032 Blanton Drive / Murfreesboro, TN 37129

The treatment facility expansion will increase the Sinking Creek Plant capacity from the current 16 million gallons per day to 24 million gallons per day. The expansion is expected to be completed by 2018. The City Council approved the expansion on February 5, 2015. This expansion is critical in ensuring the City maintains its strong socioeconomic position for the population and forecasted growth in Murfreesboro 2035.