What This Story Is About
Testing on potential sites for the new Lebanon wastewater treatment plant could delay the selection of the location until next spring.
Why It Matters
The site testing would include looking for heavy rock, possible sinkholes, floodplains and soil contaminants.
What Happens Next
During Tuesday night’s Lebanon City Council meeting, a water consultant told the council he cannot begin inspecting the sites until the council passes the right-of-entry ordinances.
For Context
Lebanon Mayor Rick Bell announced in April that the city needed to move ahead with a new facility, as the current sewer plant is 60 years old. The city later created a committee to help identify potential locations for the new site.
Catch Up
Wilson County commissioners preparing to formally state opposition to the sewer treatment plant locationLebanon leaders review evaluations for potential site of new wastewater treatment plant
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Leaders for the city of Lebanon may not know where a new wastewater treatment plant will be built until next spring.
The city has narrowed the locations down to three sites.
During Tuesday night’s Lebanon City Council meeting, a water consultant told the council he cannot begin inspecting the sites until the council passes the right-of-entry ordinances.
Those ordinances would allow the consultant onto private properties without needing permission. It would take two separate readings to pass the ordinances.
The consultant also said it will take at least 90 days to test the sites once the ordinances pass.
The site testing would include looking for heavy rock, possible sinkholes, floodplains and soil contaminants.
The consultant expects to have results for the tests by February or March of 2027.
The city council agreed that performing the extensive environmental and geotechnical tests is worth potentially losing its federal funding for the project as the Sep. 30 deadline quickly approaches.
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