Loan will help Metro reduce sewage overflow into Cumberland River

Metro has made vast improvements to its storm water system in recent years, but during times of heavy rains, runoff still enters and overwhelms the city’s wastewater treatment facilities.

When this happens, Metro experiences a “sewer overflow event,” which means storm water mixed with partially treated wastewater overflows into the Cumberland River. This process is highly regulated and strongly discouraged by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

An $18 million, 20-year load from the state’s SRF Loan Program — administered by TDEC — will provide funds to further prevent “wet weather combined sewer overflow events.” The low-interest loan comes with a 1.74 percent interest rate.

The loans are aimed to help communities, utility districts, and water and wastewater authorities finance projects that protect Tennessee’s ground and surface waters and public health.

In Nashville, funds will be used to construct a “combined sewer overflow regulator structure on the east bank of the Cumberland River in order to decrease the frequency, volume, and duration of permitted wet weather combined sewer overflow events.”

Gov. Phil Bredesen and TDEC Commissioner Jim Fyke announced Thursday the approval of the loan for Nashville as well as a $1 million, 20-year loan for the city of Crossville.

Funds for the loans come primarily from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a 20 percent match from the state.