TWSA agrees to address noise concerns at Cashiers sewer plant

By Rose Hooper

For more than two years the plant, which is operating at its capacity, has been under a moratorium preventing new hookups. Prospects for expansion began to brighten in May when state officials granted a permit to allow additional 100,000 gallons a day of sewage to be treated.

However, bids on the project, which exceeding $1 million, were well over the $800,000 TWSA had allocated.

With the expansion on hold again, TWSA board members agreed some action is needed with regard to the noise generated by air blowers at the plant.

Maddy Buckhannan, who lives on Clematis Lane near the Cashiers plant on Zeb Alley Road, told TWSA board members earlier this month that noise continues to be a problem in her residential neighborhood.

When TWSA Executive Director Jerry King said one of the blowers had been relocated, Buckhannan countered the move did not eliminate the noise. Plus, she added, the addition of two more blowers required when the plant is expanded will further increase the noise level.

Board members asked King if the expansion addressed the noise issue.

"It does not, but it could be incorporated," said King, who recommended to the board not to do anything to the existing blowers until the plant is expanded.

"When we visited the plant in July, we did hear the noise," said TWSA member Chuck Wooten. "I think we should ask our engineer to visit the sewer plant, determine where the noise is coming from, and make recommendations on how to control it."

"Who is the engineer on this (expansion) project?" board member Keith Ward asked.

While the apparent low bidder on the project was RPB Systems Inc. of Asheville, King said the engineer's name could not be released at this time.

"No contracts have been signed yet," King said, indicating 30 days had been added to the time limit for awarding a contract.

Even without knowing who they'd be dealing with, board members unanimously requested the unnamed engineer to determine how the blower noise could be controlled - whether or not the plant is expanded - and present the board with options.

Back to Archive: 08/29/02.