Huntsville Fishing For Solution To Worm Problem

Huntsville, TN (2011-02-28) The Town of Huntsville is searching for a solution to a growing problem; worms that have inundated the municipality’s wastewater treatment plant. While available grant funding may alleviate the short-term financial impact of the problem, ultimately, the Town will have to replace the entire plant to offset soaring operational costs.

Mayor George W. Potter and the Huntsville City Council openly discussed the Town’s predicament at its wastewater treatment plant Monday night, disclosing an infestation of tubifex worms, commonly referred to as sludge worms, had clogged the filters at the treatment facility. The infestation, which officials indicated had been exacerbated by cold water temperatures and an extraordinary high liquid to solid influent ratio, had created a situation whereas the plant was incapable of handling the inflow, especially during rainy water. As result, the Town and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation had developed a contingency plan to treat raw sewage with chemicals, and bypass the filter system at the plant. Furthermore, under the direction of the state, the Town has treated the facility’s filter system with high doses of chemicals to kill the infestation, an effort that has reportedly resulted in about a 70% improvement in the plant’s operation. A third treatment is planned.

While killing the worms temporarily improved the situation at the plant, the growth of the worms will continue to be ongoing problem; especially during the winter. Furthermore, the filter cartridges at the plant have already exceeded their average life expectancy, meaning the Town needs to replace them. If the Town replaces all six filters at the plant, it will cost the small municipality up to $360,000.

In the short term, Huntsville has asked permission to redirect grant funds earmarked for sewage collection system improvements to the plant problem. If granted, the Town may use the money to purchase two new filter cartridges for the plant; however, the other filters will still need to be replaced.

“(The Town) doesn’t have the money,” commented Mayor Potter. The cost of the filters, combined with a sharp increase in the usage of electricity created by nature of the plant operation, has made the cost of wastewater treatment prohibitive. “We would have to charge every customer a $100 a month (to pay our expenses),” Potter suggested. Such a charge, he added, was unacceptable.

Given the situation, the Town has embarked on a mission to solicit emergency funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to pay for the development and construction of a new, more cost efficient treatment facility.