TDEC Announces $232 Million In Water Infrastructure Investments

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced Wednesday 102 grants totaling $232,709,981 from the state’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) fund, part of which TDEC is administering in the form of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure grants. Since August, TDEC has awarded and announced $634,404,544 in grant funds through ARP programming.

Of the 102 grants announced today, 17 are collaborative grants and 85 are non-collaborative grants. Collaborative grants involve multiple entities (cities, counties, or water utilities) partnering on projects to work toward a shared purpose. The awards announced today include funding for 132 individual drinking water, wastewater, and/or stormwater infrastructure projects. 

Tennessee received $3.725 billion from the ARP, and the state’s Financial Stimulus Accountability Group dedicated $1.35 billion of those funds to TDEC to support water projects in communities throughout Tennessee. Of the $1.35 billion, approximately $1 billion was designated for non-competitive formula-based grants offered to counties and eligible cities to address critical systems needs. Those include developing Asset Management Plans, addressing significant non-compliance, updating aging infrastructure, mitigating water loss for drinking water systems, and reducing inflow and infiltration for wastewater systems.

The grants announced today are part of the $1 billion non-competitive grant program. The remaining funds ($269 million) will go to state-initiated projects and competitive grants. 

“These grants will address important water infrastructure needs for local communities across Tennessee,” Gov. Bill Lee said. “We look forward to the improvements these projects will bring, and we commend the communities who have gone through the application process.”

Here are the local recipients of the grants:

Collaborative Grants

Town of Atwood – $815,203

The Town of Atwood, in collaboration with Carroll County, will use ARP funds to improve system resilience and modernize aging and failing infrastructure. Projects include the purchase of a backup generator and installation of 8-inch diameter water lines. Atwood will also replace the aged sewer lift station with a new station.

Carroll County – $2,224,218

Carroll County, in collaboration with the Cedar Grove Utility District, will leverage ARP and State Revolving Fund (SRF) funds to address critical needs including the development of an Asset Management Plan and aging infrastructure. Projects include the replacement of aged asbestos cement lines, GIS mapping, and an inventory assessment. Additional projects include the replacement of approximately 83,000 linear feet of the drinking water distribution system.

City of Clarksburg – $669,054

The City of Clarksburg, in collaboration with Carroll County, will use ARP funds to address critical needs and develop an Asset Management Plan. Clarksburg will use these funds to rehabilitate two sewer pump stations that are critical to the collection of the city’s wastewater.

City of Waverly – $1,325,000

The City of Waverly, in collaboration with Humphreys County, will use ARP funds to address water loss and replace the existing water tank in the County. The project includes the replacement of the aging tank with a 325,000-gallon steel ground storage tank.

Non-Collaborative Grants

Benton County – $1,481,306

Benton County will use ARP funds to improve wastewater and drinking water services in three utilities: North Utility District (NUD), Harbor Utility District (HUD), and the Benton Decatur Special Sewer District (BDSSD). NUD’s project will extend potable water service to county residents who are currently without adequate water service. HUD will address risk management and resiliency to extreme weather events through a generator project and BDSSD will initiate a wastewater collection system improvement program to address excessive inflow and infiltration. These projects will enhance sewer revenues and ensure that Benton County utility districts operate successfully.

City of Camden – $2,442,490

The City of Camden will use ARP funds to address critical drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs, including water loss mitigation and modernizing their Water Treatment Plant. Camden will also develop an integrated Asset Management Plan. The investigation, planning, and design projects will enable the city to leverage future funding opportunities for construction projects and further address critical system needs.

Decatur County – $1,424,739

Decatur County will use ARP funds to address critical drinking water needs in two utility districts, Perryville Utility and North Utility of Decatur-Benton. Perryville will address water loss and modernize drinking water lines. North Utility of Decatur-Benton will develop an Asset Management Plan and make water loss improvements to the Woodlawn Shores Resort area water system. Additionally, Perryville Utility will seek SRF funding to develop an Asset Management Plan.

City of McEwen – $1,273,527

The City of McEwen will use ARP funds to address critical needs, including developing an Asset Management Plan. McEwen will address excessive inflow and infiltration through the rehabilitation of their sewer system including manhole repair and pipelines rehabilitation and replacement.

City of Waverly – $1,487,920

The City of Waverly will leverage ARP and SRF funds to address critical needs in their drinking water system and develop an Asset Management Plan. Waverly will replace an existing failing water tank with a new 400,000-gallon multi-column elevated steel storage tank which will raise the overflow elevation and provide additional pressure to the system.