History
The Water Authority of Dickson County (WADC) was formed as a regional water and wastewater service provider in 2002 by the consolidation of the City of Dickson Water and Wastewater System, Turnbull-White Bluff Utility District, and Harpeth Utility District. Combining these entities resulted in centralized water service to approximately 75% of the land mass and population of Dickson County as well as portions of surrounding counties. Since the consolidation, WADC has been used as a model throughout Tennessee for other utility districts interested in combining to provide regional services.
The predecessor cooperative organization, Dickson County Water Authority, was formed in 1988 with the intention of securing a viable, long term source of drinking water for Dickson County. Years of planning and studies identified the Cumberland River as the solution to future water source issues.
The Cumberland River Water Treatment Plant was completed in late 2003 as the first ultrafiltration membrane treatment facility in Tennessee, producing a highly pure drinking water. The plant, nestled in the northeast corner of Dickson County, was designed using state-of-the-art technology and a vision to meet water supply needs for at least 50 years. As built, the plant has a capacity of 5 million gallons per day (mgd) with options for upgrades to 15 mgd and water availability for additional expansions. Combined with the Dickson Water Plant capacity of 2.1 mgd and the Turnbull Water Plant capacity of 4.5 mgd, WADC is prepared to supply customers’ long term water needs.
The Jones Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is also a showcase facility, producing a clear, sparkling effluent that reliably meets discharge permit standards. A recently implemented sewer rehabilitation project has resulted in corrections of infiltration and inflow, reducing the wastewater flow to the facility and extending its life. The plant dewaters and lime stabilizes its waste biomass to produce N-Viro® soil that is used by local residents for natural fertilization of land. Dickson County farmers using N-Viro® soil report two- to ten-fold increases in crop production, as compared with commercial fertilizers.
The Water Authority consolidated in 2006 with the City of Fairview Water and Wastewater Department. The Water Authority invested in capital and operational modifications of the Fairview Wastewater Treatment Plant that resulted in improved compliance, termination of the 2004 sewer moratorium on the Plant, and removal of Flat Rock Branch from the 303(d) list of impaired streams.
In 2015 the Water Authority acquired the Wastewater Systems from the Town of White Bluff adding an additional 0.5 MGD treatment facility, 933 customers and nearly 25 miles of sewer main.
Since its inception, WADC has experienced increases of more than 40% in water customers, more than 100% in wastewater customers, and looks forward to continued growth. WADC services more than 657 miles of water main and more than 256 miles of sewer main. Annually the Authority now produces and sells approximately 1.7 billion gallons of water and treats approximately 1.5 billion gallons of wastewater.
WADC serves water customers in Dickson and Williamson Counties and wastewater customers in Dickson, Hickman and Williamson counties. The Authority is well positioned to provide water and wastewater services to meet the challenges of its region.