GENERAL
The Springfield Water/Wastewater
Department is responsible for the
production and distribution of potable
water to approximately twelve thousand
two hundred fifty (12,250) water customers
within the city of Springfield and
Robertson County. The Red River serves
as the water system's raw water supply.
The department also provides wastewater
(sewer) collection and treatment services
to nearly six thousand six hundred
fifty (6,650) customers within the
city of Springfield. The wastewater
system's treated effluent is discharged
into Sulphur Fork Creek.
PLUMBING CODE
The International Plumbing Code,
2003 edition, as prepared and adopted
by the International Code Council, including
all appendices, addenda, and supplements
thereto, has been adopted as the City
of Springfield plumbing code.
HOW TO INITIATE WATER
AND WASTEWATER (SEWER) SERVICE
The City of Springfield is a full
service city that provides water, wastewater,
electric, gas and sanitation utility
services which are collectively billed
on one monthly statement as a convenience
for our customers. New service can be
initiated by visiting the new services
window on the first floor of City Hall,
completing an application, and paying
all service fees and deposits. City
Hall is located at 405 North Main Street
and the telephone number is 615-382-2200.
RATES AND FEES
The current rates and fees for water
and wastewater (sewer) service can be
found on the City of Springfield home
page by clicking on Rates
and Fees.
CALLS FOR WATER OR
SEWER REPAIRS
Water and wastewater customers can
call for main, manhole, fire hydrant
and facility repairs by dialing the
Water/Wastewater Department Office at
382-1600 during regular business hours
which are Monday through Friday from
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Emergency after
hours and weekend calls can be made
to the Springfield Police Department
by dialing 384-8422.
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
WATER QUALITY REPORT
By July 1 of each year, the City
of Springfield is required to notify
each customer about the quality of the
drinking water including a summary of
the results of the tests that are performed.
The notification, the
Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), is
mailed to each customer and provides
information for the previous calendar
year. The CCR contains general information
about the water system as well as technical
information about the analyses that
are performed on a routine basis.
>Annual
Water Quality Report
TAP FEES AND INSTALLATION
FEES FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER
Water
The City of Springfield shall
be responsible for making all water
service installations on the existing
system. Charges for a standard ¾
- inch residential service installation
made by the City, assuming there is
a water main of sufficient size abutting
the property, shall be a tap fee of
$300.00 and an installation charge
of $700.00 for a short-side installation
or an installation charge of $900.00
for a long side installation. All
other size service installations made
by the City shall each be charged
a tap fee of $300.00 and an installation
charge of $1,000.00 per inch diameter
for a short-side installation or an
installation of $1,000.00 per inch
diameter, plus actual main extension
costs, for a long-side installation.
A tap fee of $300.00
per connection shall be paid for service
installations on mains constructed
by the developer. The home builder/property
owner shall be responsible for making
the connection to the water service
line that the developer has installed
to the lot.
Wastewater
The City shall be responsible
for making all wastewater service
installations on the existing system.
Charges for a standard 6-inch service
installation made by the City, assuming
there is a wastewater main of sufficient
size abutting the property, shall
be a tap fee of $300.00 and an installation
charge of $800.00. All other service
installations made by the City shall
each be charged a tap fee of $300.00
and an installation charge at actual
cost.
A tap fee of $300.00
shall be paid for each service installation
on mains constructed by the developer.
The home builder/property owner shall
be responsible for making the connection
to the wastewater service line that
the developer has installed to the
lot.
CAPACITY FEES FOR WATER
AND WASTEWATER
The City of Springfield has established
capacity fees for water and wastewater
in order to help to recover capital
improvement costs related to the construction
of major new facilities and lines. Capacity
fees for water and wastewater are paid
at the same time the installation charges
and tap fees are paid. An applicant
for a building permit within the City
of Springfield or an applicant for a
building permit within Robertson County
to be served by the Springfield water/wastewater
utility system must present receipts
showing that the capacity fees and the
County's adequate facilities tax have
been paid as a condition of qualifying
for a building permit.
Each new equivalent single-family
dwelling unit connection to the City
of Springfield water system shall be
charged a capacity fee in the amount
of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750.00).
Each new equivalent single-family
dwelling unit connection to the City
of Springfield wastewater system shall
be charged a capacity fee in the amount
of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750.00).
An equivalent single-family
dwelling unit connection is a unit of
measurement equal to the amount of water
that can be provided to a single-family
dwelling unit connection through a ¾
- inch water meter. The capacity fee
charge per connection shall be determined
by the water meter size and the number
of equivalent single-family dwelling
unit connections that can be provided
through the meter.
WATER AND SEWER MAIN
EXTENSIONS
The City of Springfield's policies
for the extension of water and sewer
mains can be found on the City of Springfield
home page by clicking on Springfield
Municipal Code and scrolling to Title
18 entitled "Water and Wastewaters."
The policies for water main extensions
are found in Chapter 2, Sections 18-207,
18-208 and 18-209. The policies for
sewer main extensions are found in Chapter
3, Sections 18-314, 18-315 and 18-316.
WATER AND SEWERAGE
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS MANUAL
The City of Springfield has prepared
design and construction standards for
the City's water and wastewater system.
These standards are reviewed from time
to time to assure compliance with federal
and state regulations, to take advantage
of improved material or construction
techniques, or to correct shortcomings
in the current edition.
A copy of the City of
Springfield Water and Sewerage Design
and Construction Standards Manual can
be purchased for twenty-five dollars
($25.00) at the Water/Wastewater Department
Office at 824 Central Avenue West.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
AND WATER SERVICE LINES
The City shall not assume liability
for damages incurred by a water customer
when damages result from:
-
Defective operation
or condition of customer's plumbing
system, or
-
A defective condition
in the City's water system, unless
the City received actual or constructive
notice of the defective condition
with sufficient time to amend.
All claims resulting from
negligent operation, negligent installation,
or negligent repairs, and all claims
arising out of sudden and unexpected
emergency repair work will be handled
on a case by case basis within the scope
of the Tennessee Municipal League Risk
Management Pool policies, and within
the scope of general law, including
the Tennessee Municipal Tort Liability
Act.
CUSTOMERS ARE NOT TO
SUPPLY WATER TO OTHERS
Customers shall not supply water
or allow water to be transported to
other premises without the consent of
the City. Water facilities within the
service area of the Springfield Water
System are considered the property of
the City of Springfield up to, and including,
the meter or sprinkler system indicator
valve. Ownership of lines by private
parties, with the intent to restrict
or charge for connections to the line,
is prohibited. The City of Springfield
has sole operational, connection, and
extension authority on water lines that
have been, or that are planned to be,
constructed by private parties and maintained
and operated by the City.
UN-METERED OR UNAUTHORIZED
SERVICES
For standby fire protection services,
such as fire hydrants and sprinkler
systems, un-metered connection to the
water system is permitted and will be
considered the normal configuration.
All other uses of UN-metered water,
theft of water meters, or UN-metered
connections; including City or County
road maintenance activities and sanitary
sewer maintenance, are prohibited.
CROSS CONNECTIONS
In order to protect the integrity
of the potable water supply, certain
classes of commercial and industrial
water customers, and all fire protection
lines, must be fitted with devices that
prevent the reintroduction of water
which potentially could carry contaminants
back to the public water supply. All
commercial and industrial water customers
must install an approved cross connection
control device by the mechanical contractor
at a level and location to be easily
accessible for inspection and maintenance.
The device must be installed at a height
not less than two (2) feet above the
floor and not more than five (5) feet
above the floor, and must not be placed
in a pit or outside unless in an approved
enclosure.
Specific information regarding
the installation, use and testing of
backflow prevention devices can be obtained
by contacting the Water/Wastewater Department
at 382-1600.
FIRE HYDRANTS
Fire hydrants are installed for
fire protection, not for convenient
water supply outlets for other uses.
Fire hydrants are to be operated by
fire departments, contractors installing
fire hydrants, or City water crews.
The use of fire hydrants for road or
site construction, maintenance, or for
sanitary sewer maintenance is prohibited.
The City of Springfield
may install fire hydrants outside the
corporate limits where lines exist that
will provide adequate fire flow. The
hydrants will be installed at the customer's
expense and shall become the property
of the City. The size and type of fire
hydrants shall be determined by the
Water/Wastewater Department. All fire
hydrants outside the corporate limits
of the City and within the service area
of the City's water system shall be
maintained by the Water/Wastewater Department.
Fire hydrants installed outside the
corporate limits shall be at locations
established by the Water/Wastewater
Department and may be funded by developers
or through a system-wide capital improvement
program funded by the City and/or County.
FILLING OF TANK TRUCKS
FOR FARM AND BUSINESS WATER SUPPLY
The Water/Wastewater Department
may sell water to fill the water storage
tanks of persons who deliver water storage
tanks to the designated facility to
receive this service. The service is
available to farmers and businesses
only.
The farmer or business
shall deliver the water storage tank
to the wastewater treatment plant at
the end of Lawrence Lane, or other designated
location, and the tank shall be filled
from a specific hydrant by Water/Wastewater
Department personnel upon presentation
of the required coupon. This service
shall be conditioned upon the availability
and convenience of Water/Wastewater
Department personnel.
The cost for the service
is fifteen dollars ($15.00) per 1,000
gallons. All persons desiring service
must purchase 1,000 gallon coupons from
the Water/Wastewater Department Office
in advance. Payment for coupons shall
be by check only. Persons desiring service
shall present a separate coupon to the
Water/Wastewater Department employee
filling the tank for each 1,000 gallons
of water, or fraction thereof, purchased.
Service shall not be provided
during water shortages or system failure.
Coupons can be purchased
at the Water/Wastewater Department Office
at 824 Central Avenue during regular
business hours. Persons desiring more
information about this service may contact
the Water/Wastewater Department Office
by dialing 382-1600.
DAMAGES TO CITY WATER
FACILITIES
All persons that encounter the City
water system shall be liable for damages
their actions may cause. This includes
from the source (Red River and its watershed)
through treatment, transmission, storage,
and distribution.
The City of Springfield
is a member of Tennessee One-Call. When
excavation is contemplated, telephone
calls to the City are required to establish
locations for underground facilities.
Failure to give prior notice for underground
facility locations shall be considered
negligence and the repair of damages
will be due. Willful damage to water
facilities will be considered gross
negligence and the repair of damages
will be due and punitive damages may
be sought.
DAMAGE TO WATER METERS
If a City owned water meter is damaged
due to an act by a customer, through
negligence or abuse, the customer is
responsible for the repairs and/or replacement.
The customer will be billed for the
actual cost of repair or replacement,
and such bill will be paid within thirty
(30) days; otherwise the unpaid bill
will be added to the customer's utility
bill. An estimate based on the average
usage will be made and added to the
repair costs.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT
AND WATER STORAGE FACILITIES
The City of Springfield water treatment
plant has a capacity to produce 10 million
gallons of water per day. The plant
provides water to Springfield, Greenbrier,
Coopertown and other portions of Robertson
County. The plant processes used to
treat water from the Red River include
coagulation, sedimentation, filtration,
chlorination, and fluoridation. The
chemicals used in the treatment process
are aluminum sulfate, activated carbon,
potassium permanganate, hydrofluorosilic
acid (fluoride), hydrated lime and polyphosphate.
The water plant is operated
twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven
(7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five
(365) days a year with a staff of seven
(7) operators and a plant mechanic.
The water system also
has two (2) ground level water tanks
capable of storing 8 million gallons
of water and three (3) elevated water
tanks capable of storing over 1.375
million gallons of water.
CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES
AND WASTEWATER SERVICE LINES
The City does not assume responsibility
for damages incurred by wastewater that
result from stoppages on a customer's
private wastewater service line. The
customer is responsible for maintaining
the flow capacity of the private wastewater
service line from the house to the City's
main. This includes solids buildup and
tree root intrusions. Customers are
required to have minimal cleanouts at
the house and at the property line to
enable plumbers to access and clean
these lines.
The City is responsible
for the structural integrity of the
service line from the main to the property
line. The City may be responsible for
stoppages that occur on a City main
and the private property damage that
may result.
The City shall not assume
liability for damages incurred by a
wastewater customer when damages result
from:
All claims resulting from
negligent operation, negligent installation,
or negligent repairs, and all claims
arising out of sudden and unexpected
emergency repair work will be handled
on a case by case basis within the scope
of the Tennessee Municipal League Risk
Management Pool policies, and within
the scope of general law, including
the Tennessee Municipal Tort Liability
Act.
SEWER CLEANING AND
/OR FLUSHING
Sanitary sewer maintenance involving
clearing obstructions with City equipment
is to be restricted to maintenance of
the sanitary sewer main and not private
service lines. A main is generally described
as having two (2) or more private connections
and is within public rights-of-way or
easements. The following steps should
be taken in the event of a sewer stoppage:
-
If the plumber determines
that the blockage is on the City's
main, the plumber should then call
the Water/Wastewater Department
and either remain on-site to describe
the findings, or provide enough
detail on the telephone that the
Department crews can accomplish
their work.
Water/Wastewater Department
Responsibility
Property Owner's Responsibility
-
The property owner
is required to abide by the sewer
use ordinance and not discharge
non-sanitary waste that can cause
blockages. This includes items such
as rags and disposable diapers.
-
Even though a portion
of the service line is within a
public right-of-way or easement,
it is installed for the use of the
customer, not the system. Therefore,
its maintenance of flow and discharge
capacity is the responsibility of
the property owner.
-
The property owner
is required to maintain trees in
such a manner as to avoid root intrusion
in the sewer system.
-
If an obstruction
occurs or is suspected, the property
owner should employ a qualified
plumber to determine the nature
of the problem.
-
The property owner
is required to have an approved
clean-out both adjacent to the building
and at the right-of-way or easement
line.
Plumber's Responsibility
PROHIBITIONS AND LIMITATIONS
ON SEWER DISCHARGES
All sewer customers shall comply
with the appropriate provisions of the
City's sewer use ordinance. You can
access the City's regulations pertaining
to sewer by clicking on the quick link
entitled Springfield Municipal Code,
by clicking on Title 18 entitled "Water
and Wastewaters", and by clicking
on Chapter 3 entitled "Sewage Disposal."
In addition, all industrial
users are subject to "National
Pretreatment Standards: Prohibited Discharges"
as detailed in 40 CFR, Part 403.5. In
addition, no user shall discharge or
allow to be discharged into the sewerage
works any of the following materials:
unpolluted waters, solid or viscous
waters, explosive mixtures, improperly
shredded garbage, corrosive wastes,
oils and grease, noxious materials,
discolored materials, toxic substances,
radioactive wastes, and high temperature
wastes.
No person shall discharge
or convey, or permit, or allow to be
discharged or conveyed to a public sewer
any wastewater containing pollutants
of such character or quantity that will:
-
Constitute a hazard
to human or animal life, or to the
stream or water course receiving
the treatment plant effluent;
-
Violate National
Pretreatment Standards as promulgated
by the EPA with appropriate effective
dates; or
-
Cause the treatment
plant to experience problems with
unit operations, sludge handling
and disposal options or compliance
with its NPDES permit limitations.
Concentrations shall not exceed
any applicable categorical standards,
any local limits or the amounts
as detailed in the City's "Protection
Criteria Parameters."
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
PLANT
The City of Springfield wastewater
treatment plant has the capacity to
treat up to 3.4 million gallons of wastewater
per day. The plant treats wastewater
for the City of Springfield and processes
wastewater from septic tank haulers.
The plant utilizes an activated sludge
process.
Treated water is discharged
into Sulphur Fork Creek and treated
bio-solids are land applied on site
or dried through a belt press and used
in composting. Daily lab analysis is
performed to ensure compliance with
state and federal regulations.
The plant is operated
twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven
(7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five
(365) days a year with a staff of seven
(7) operators and one plant mechanic.
The City's Industrial Pre-treatment
Program is managed at the wastewater
treatment plant.
DISPOSAL OF SEPTIC
WASTE BY PRIVATE HAULERS
The City of Springfield wastewater
treatment plant may accept for disposal
and treatment septic waste from private
waste collection system haulers. The
septic waste that is accepted must be
eligible for treatment under the parameters
of the City of Springfield sewer use
ordinance. The service is available
to licensed and/or permitted private
septic waste haulers discharging waste
only from septic systems located within
Robertson County.
The private septic waste
hauler must deliver the load of septic
waste to the wastewater treatment plant
for discharge under the supervision
of a plant operator. Before the load
can be dumped, the hauler shall first
present the required coupon and a manifest
to the plant operator for review. The
manifest shall show the location where
the load was picked up. Septic waste
from multiple locations shall have a
manifest for each location. The load
cannot be dumped until the plant operator
has given the approval. This service
is conditioned upon the availability
and convenience of wastewater plant
personnel.
The cost for service shall
be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per
truck load. All persons desiring service
shall purchase coupons from the Water/Wastewater
Department Office in advance. Payment
for coupons shall be by check only.
Persons desiring service shall present
a separate coupon for each truck load
to the wastewater treatment plant operator
supervising the discharge.
CONTACTS
Springfield Water/Wastewater Department
824 Central Avenue
Springfield, Tennessee 37172
Telephone: 615-382-1600
Fax: 615-384-6951
After Hours Emergency Telephone: 615-384-8422
Office Hours: Monday through Friday,
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Roger Lemasters, P.E.,
Director of Water/Wastewater Utilities
Water Treatment Plant
6213 Smith Road
Cedar Hill, TN 37032
Telephone: 615-696-2586
Fax: 615-696-2561
Wastewater Treatment
Plant
530 Lawrence Lane
Springfield, TN 37172
Telephone: 615-384-1150
Fax: 615-384-1179
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Springfield, Tennessee 37172