Paris, Tenn.–At Tuesday’s meeting of the Paris Utility Authority board, Paris BPU President Terry Wimberley addressed the unusually large number of water main repairs the utility’s Water Department has recently faced.
The continuing drought the county is experiencing over the last few months paired with sudden cool temperatures has contributed to multiple water main breaks. Wimberley said these weather conditions can put pressure on underground pipes, causing them to crack or break as the soil contracts.
Wimberley updated the board on the Clifty Creek sewer pump station improvements. Wimberley said the improvements and repairs are complete with a total cost of around $400,000. The improvements and repairs aid in the wastewater system’s redundancy, decreasing the risk of environmental impact.
Included in the President’s report was information about the State Revolving Fund, which is a state loan opportunity for upcoming water projects, and the American Rescue Plan, which is a federal loan opportunity for upcoming wastewater projects. Wimberley stated that these loans would “be used for improvements to the utility’s current water and wastewater systems, further increasing reliability of services for customers.”
Paris BPU Manager of Information Technology & Security, Randy Dean, was then introduced as the employee guest. Dean joined the utility in 2010, coordinating the functions of Paris BPU’s computer system and guiding the organization to navigate the everchanging cyber world, while also serving as the utility’s security officer.