CUD and City of Murfreesboro Activate Contingency Water Supply

A new water service interconnection between Consolidated Utility District (CUD) and Murfreesboro Water Resources Department will keep water flowing to CUD customers even in the event of an emergency, such as a major mechanical breakdown or natural disaster, such as a tornado or other severe weather.

Based on current demand, the new interconnection can serve all CUD customers with enough water for an average day’s consumption or up to 65 percent of a maximum day’s usage.

“This is a valuable tool for maintaining reliable water service to our customers,” said CUD Director of Engineering Alan Stuemke. “The county is growing rapidly, and this interconnection ensures we will have enough water to answer that need.”

Construction at the K. Thomas Hutchinson Water Treatment Plant has required some temporary shutdowns during which this new interconnection has been used.  It is one more contingency for dealing with any kind of equipment malfunction which impacts CUD customers. This interconnection will provide sufficient water to compensate for any temporary disruption or reduction in CUD water treatment capacity.

“This is the third sizable interconnection between CUD, Murfreesboro, and Smyrna that allows us to help each other in a time of crisis,” said CUD General Manager William Dunnill. “Reliable service is the goal of all three entities, and this project accomplishes that objective. “

The interconnection is located at the intersection of Sam Jared Drive and Compton Road, near the Veterans Administration Alvin C. York Medical Center. The city’s water treatment plant is located on Sam Jared Drive, a short distance from the new interconnection.

A trial run of the interconnection was conducted on November 18 of last year, and CUD and the city are making final adjustments to operations software. When online communications are complete, full remote control management will be available. This will provide an easy way for the city to monitor usage. CUD and the city are also configuring the system to send identical messaging so the utilities’ control rooms receive the same, real-time data.

Planning for this interconnection began in May 2016. The property on which the interconnection rests is owned by Middle Tennessee State University and required approval from the university’s Board of Trustees.