White Pine’s Sewer Treatment Plant, Lands On EPA Violations List For Last Nine Quarters

A recent release of information regarding the safety of White Pine’s drinking water has been a point of concern for citizens. According to information provided by Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Environmental Protection Agency, emissions from the White Pine Sewer Treatment Plant may be of greater concern.

Eric Ward, Deputy Communications Director for TDEC, addressed the safety of the drinking water in White Pine, which landed the city on the EPA violations list. Ward said

“White Pine had four of 20 samples initially exceed the action level (15 parts per billion), which we believe were due to sampling errors. White Pine retested the initial 20, plus an additional 20. All came back below the action level. White Pine will be following guidance for communicating test results with their customer base. We have also directed White Pine to conduct another round of water sampling in the summer to ensure consumer confidence.”

The larger problem appears to be with White Pine’s Sewer Treatment Plant, which has landed on the EPA violations list for the last nine quarters. Perhaps as troubling is the most recent information, which was provided as little as 2 ½ months ago, which shows an increase in EPA violations with White Pine Sewer Treatment Plant logging the most violations to date, pointing to a situation that is degrading rather than improving.

In May of 2014, violation notice of the Clean Water Act was sent by the EPA and a letter was sent, by TDEC, to the Mayor of White Pine in February of 2015 which noted violations in settleable solids, total suspended solids, TSS percent removal and E. coli. The TDEC letter called for a plan of action but that is the last correspondence, other than permitting requests, that is noted in the file. TDEC representative Ward confirmed that the department is aware of the situation in White Pine.

“The sewage treatment plant has experienced violations primarily due to wet weather flows. During wet weather, the amount of water flowing into the system exceeds the volume the system can safely handle, resulting in overflows at manholes and pump stations within the system. Additional flows reaching the treatment plant also are disrupting the treatment process causing an increase in effluent violations. Collection system issues are some of the more expensive and time consuming issues to correct. White Pine STP is working to obtain funding primarily through the grant process to help them address these violations. TDEC has met with White Pine STP leadership to discuss these issues, and plans to meet again to determine short-term and long-term corrective action.”

Though information from TDEC indicates that other testing of drinking water has been completed and that there is ongoing communication regarding multiple violations of the Clean Water Act in regard to the Sewer Treatment Plant, to date no further testing data or items of correspondence have been publicly filed. According to TDEC, the White Pine Sewer Plant discharges into the French Broad River which flows through Douglas Lake.