Gainesboro To Examine Future Water Supply Options

Gainesboro took a preliminary step Thursday night to potentially expand its water treatment plant capacity.

The Board of Aldermen approved an engineering evaluation on options for the town’s future water supply. Consultant Zeda Hillis said the facility has reached 80 percent capacity.

“Once you get at 80 percent it kind of triggers the state to have you engage in doing a plan for water capacity upgrades anyway, so we’re going to have to start looking at that at some point,” Hillis said.

Hillis said the town has two options: a joint water supply agreement with another Upper Cumberland community or upgrade the facility’s basins for capacity. Hillis said the plant has not been upgraded for several years. Hillis said the number of connections and customers have outgrown the current system.

“We’ve gotten numbers for the last three years,” Hillis said. “It is pushing 80 percent on average. At that point, you have to start looking at options.”

Gainesboro provides water for the town and all of Jackson county. Hillis said the utility district supplies about 750,000 gallons per day and sometimes reaches up to 90 percent capacity.

Hillis said the engineering team will look at the options and the costs of those plans.

“This doesn’t put you to any type of agreement,” Hillis said. “That would have to come back to you before any further action.”