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Trezevant resident complains about water quality, procedures
As Trezevant officials work to overhaul an aging water system, tensions continue to rise between town leaders and residents over the quality of local drinking water.
Rita Galloway, a longtime resident, raised concerns about brown water, rising utility bills, and a lack of consistent chlorine testing. She said her household relies on bottled water due to concerns about safety, especially following her husband's recent ICU stay.
"For over $100 a month, you can't even provide me clean and safe drinking water," Galloway said. "I get messages almost daily — people complaining that their water is brown or smells terrible."
She also criticized the town's hydrant flushing practices, stating that chlorine residual testing was inconsistent and failed to meet standards used in neighboring towns like Atwood.
In response, Public Works Manager Eric Grimes defended the town’s practices and emphasized that the water is safe to drink.
“The State of Tennessee monitors everything we do,” Grimes said. “I drink the water every day. If there was something wrong with it, I wouldn't be here.”
Grimes acknowledged that until about a year ago, the town did not conduct chlorine residual testing on every hydrant, only at system dead ends, which was in line with his training. Following a state inspection, however, he was instructed to expand the testing — a change he said has been implemented.
Grimes also noted that while the system is old, improvements are underway.
“We've improved quite a bit in the last six years,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of money, so we have to rely on grants for the big stuff.”
Decades of Deferred Maintenance
Grimes and others have pointed to years of neglect under previous administrations as a major factor in the system’s current condition. During a February Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, Environmental Specialist Robert Kelley presented an alarming assessment of Trezevant’s infrastructure.
The town’s water treatment plant, more than 60 years old, no longer meets modern standards. The aeration system is deteriorating, and the elevated tank holds five to six inches of sediment — material that should have been removed during treatment.
“This is water that’s going out to people to drink,” Kelley told board members. “Your treatment plant does not meet the minimum design criteria to treat the water that’s coming out of your source.”
Kelley recommended an immediate $150,000 investment to clean the clear well and tank, and estimated that a new well and replacement plant would cost over $3 million.
Rate Hike and Federal Aid
To help fund improvements, the town implemented a 25% water rate increase in July 2024. Trezevant has also received nearly $900,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to support upgrades, including wastewater treatment and sewer system repairs. A local match of about $90,000 is required.
Grimes said the rate hike has already had an impact.
“For the first time in years, we actually have money at the start of the fiscal year,” he said. “Now we can start putting it back into the system, little by little.”
Still, the situation remains fragile. Kelley warned that delays from engineering consultants and failure to spend funds efficiently could jeopardize future aid.
Grimes agreed that the town cannot afford to wait.
“We’ve only got so much time to spend this money before we lose it,” he said.
The board is expected to continue discussions on next steps at upcoming meetings as residents and officials seek both accountability and long-term solutions.
