Gainesboro Searching For New Fuel Tank

Gainesboro beginning the process of finding a replacement for the town’s two hundred-gallon fuel tank at the Main Lift Station.

Wastewater Supervisor Chad Scott said the role of the lift station is critical to the Gainesboro wastewater management system. Scott said the lift station pumps sewage from various parts of the town to the main processing plant.

“It’s part of the plant that all the water comes into, and it pumps from the main lift station to the plant,” Scott said. “That’s where everything comes to the main lift station, and then pumps up there. Without doing that there’s no water going to the plant, its staying at the main lift station.”

Scott said without the generator, which relies on the fuel tank, the entire lift station would shut down. Scott said in such a scenario, all sewage would accumulate at the lift station itself, unable to be transported to the main plant.

Gainesboro Water Department Director John Pigg said the current fuel tank runs on diesel, and because this falls outside of county assistance, the town is responsible for finding a third-party solution. Pigg said he has already reached out to multiple sources and is now awaiting responses. Pigg also said without this new two hundred gallon fuel tank, the town’s generator would not have the necessary power to function, leaving the entire lift station vulnerable.

“Well, I have not actually got one nailed down,” Pigg said. “We have reached out to a few different people to try to see if they have the ability to do it. We have not actually gotten anybody nailed down yet on that.”

Scott said that beyond the immediate need for the generator, the current fuel tank itself is will no longer be functional in the future due to the significant rust buildup inside. Scott said this deterioration compromises its ability to hold and deliver fuel effectively, leaving the lift station without a reliable source of power. Scott also said this could pose health and environmental risks if not dealt with in the future.