MURFRERESBORO – Expand the existing wastewater treatment facilities.

That’s still the final answer according to Town Engineer, Robert Graham of George Finch/Boney and Associates concerning Murfreesboro’s existing wastewater capacity issues.

Recently, Graham reviewed various alternatives available to the town as part of the federally mandated 201 facilities plan.

&uot;This is a structured program that will help analyze the town’s needs, evaluate available alternative solutions to your problems and project future growth over the course of the next 20 years,&uot; he said.

Citing no action, the rehabilitation of wastewater collection tanks, a regional wastewater treatment system, the expansion of existing wastewater facilities and the complete replacement of the town’s existing wastewater treatment plant, Graham said he felt the best choice would be expansion.

&uot;Quite simply, a third lagoon would not only fix the problem, but it would be the least expensive solution,&uot; he said, noting that the increased capacity would provide enough leeway for future growth and development.

Graham estimated an overall cost of $2.4 million for the project, compared with $3.5 million for the rehabilitation of the collection tanks (not including the $1.5 plus million in repairs for the service lines), $4.7 million to pump wastewater through a regional system and $4.1 million in construction costs for a new replacement facility, which would require an additional $3.5 million in sewer rehab.

The new lagoon would be located behind existing lagoons off U.S. 258 adjacent to an additional proposed irrigation field.

&uot;The new lagoon would be further away from the houses than the lagoons that are already there,&uot; Graham said, admitting that there would be some noise and dust associated with the construction.

&uot;We will have to clear some of the trees on the property in preparation for the new lagoon, but because it will be a greater distance from the homes than the existing lagoons, I don’t believe the noise and dust from the construction will pose a significant nuisance to the area residents,&uot; he said.

Graham also encouraged the council to consider possible funding options through State Tribal Assistance Grants (STAG), which could provide up to 55 percent of funds for a particular project or possibly securing money through the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

Depending on other available grant money, Murfreesboro residents could see an increase in their monthly sewer fees.