Omohundro, the Eighth Avenue Reservoir and Biosolids Facility of Metro Water facilities.
One Water at Work in Nashville
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20 years; prior to joining Metro Water Services, he served in the military for 12 years. Chief Engineer Cyrus Toosi has worked for Metro Water Services for 28 years. Ron Taylor, the program director of Clean Water Nashville, the city’s sewer overflow abatement program, has been in water industry for over 35 years—22 with Metro Water Services. Municipal Water Leader’s editor-in-chief, Kris Polly, spoke with Metro Water Services’ leadership team about Nashville’s comprehensive approach to water management. Kris Polly: What is the status of Metro Water Services’ infrastructure? Scott Potter: We are fond of saying that our infrastructure is aging. I say that not to be flippant. Everyday, it is one day older, and we still have to maintain our water, wastewater, and storm water structure. The pump station for our older water treatment plant was built in 1888 and is still operating. Now, it has had lots of generational changes to it, but some of the piping is MUNICIPAL WATER LEADER
PHOTOS BY DIPTI VAIDYA AND COURTESY OF METRO WATER SERVICES.
Many metropolitan areas across the country face a singular, yet systemic challenge: meeting the water needs of a growing population while, at the same time, upgrading aging water systems. For Nashville Water Metro Services, which can trace its roots back to 1831, the solution to that challenge is holistic. The department has embraced a one-water philosophy, providing drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services to the greater Nashville metro area. Metro Water Services’ extensive water infrastructure system is uniquely adapted to the city’s hilly topography. Fifty-six pumping plants throughout the city facilitate the movement of drinking water to 89 pressure zones. Metro Water Services conveys Cumberland River water to over 660,000 customers with more than 3,000 miles of water main and 37 reservoirs. On the wastewater side, Metro Water Services runs three treatment plants and another 3,000 miles of pipe to serve nearly 750,000 people. More than 800 miles of drainage pipe routes stormwater away from residences and businesses in the city. Metro Water Services’ leadership team knows water. Director Scott Potter has been in the water business for more than
