NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The Southern Environmental Law Center has notified the Water and Wastewater Authority of Wilson County and Adenus Operations it will sue the agencies over what it calls illegal pollution in Tennessee waterways.

The SELC filed a notice of intent to sue on behalf of the Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association and the Sierra Club, claiming a sewage system owned by WWAWC and run by Adenus—a wastewater treatment management company—has illegally released polluted wastewater into a tributary of Old Hickory Lake.

At issue is a type of decentralized wastewater management system called a "drip dispersal," which is typically used for developments like subdivisions or schools that are not connected to a traditional municipal sewage system. When designed and operated correctly, SELC said waste is pre-treated and then dripped out into a land application area where remaining pollutants can be filtered out into soil rather than discharged into waterways.

According to SELC, a system owned by WWAWC and operated by Adenus has "several serious flaws," including being undersized and overloaded. The group claims the "failing system" is allowing polluted wastewater from the Ridgewater Estates subdivision to flow into homeowners' yards and a nearby stream that empties into Old Hickory Lake.

Pumping wastewater into waterways violates the system's permit and is a "clear violation of the federal Clean Water Act," according to SELC.

"Letting polluted wastewater flow into our creeks and lakes isn't just disgusting, it's a public health hazard," SELC staff attorney Stephanie Biggs said in a release. "People should be able to enjoy swimming and fishing in Old Hickory Lake without worrying about sewage pollution, and the Water and Wastewater Authority of Wilson County should expect and demand that Adenus keep polluted wastewater out of our lakes, streams, and yards."

“Tennessee’s incredible lakes and rivers are part of what makes this state so special. They are used by millions of people every year, provide us with clean drinking water, and support local businesses and economies across the state,” Buddy Koonce, Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association board member, said. “But all of that is at risk when owners and operators like the WWAWC and Adenus allow polluted wastewater to contaminate our waterways. Polluters must be held accountable when they break the law.”

The 60-day notice to sue is a prerequisite of legal actions brought under the Clean Water Act. Under the terms of the Act, WWAWC and Adenus could face daily fines of $68,445 for each violation, according to SELC.

Adenus and WWAWC allegedly have a "track record" of mismanaging drip dispersal sewage systems, SELC said. Recently, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued an enforcement action against Wilson County for a different sewage system less than 10 miles away, according to SELC.

The group also mentioned issues with the sewage system that was supposed to service the new LaGuardo Elementary School in Lebanon in their release. That sewage system reportedly experienced permitting issues from TDEC that have caused delays in the full operation of the system, even though classes began on Aug. 1.

State Sen. Mark Pody, who serves Wilson County, said sewage system issues are a statewide problem in a July interview with News 2. He said TDEC issued a report in 2024 that revealed about a quarter of systems in the state exhibited "notable performance issues," including wastewater not being properly controlled.

"There was over a hundred in sum," Pody said. "I mean, these were massive.

According to a TDEC report, Wilson County is a "hotspot" for faulty sewage systems, according to SELC.

“Drip dispersal systems have become an increasingly popular waste management method for developers who are building out our traditionally rural landscapes. However, last year's study by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation clearly showed that these types of decentralized sewage treatment systems are failing at a systemic level and are exposing the public and the environment to pollution. This action sends a message that Tennesseans will not tolerate parties that ignore their permits, harm our communities, and treat our state’s rivers and streams as their dumping grounds,” Axel Ringe, chair of the Tennessee Chapter of the Sierra Club’s Water Quality Committee, said.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/wilson-county-sewage-system-lawsuit/