Bredesen Announces Recovery Act Grants for 10 Tennessee Drinking Water Systems

NASHVILLE – Governor Phil Bredesen and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke announced today that 10 small drinking water systems will receive Drinking Water Mentoring Initiative grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will provide free training materials and $15,100 in salary support to help the systems hire and train the next generation of drinking water professionals in Tennessee.

"This Recovery Act funding will help some of our smaller communities train the water quality professionals responsible for providing Tennesseans with clean, reliable water,” said Bredesen. “This will provide jobs and help these communities ensure their drinking water systems continue to be managed to protect public health.”

The water systems selected to receive Drinking Water Mentoring Initiative Grants are: 

• Bruceton Water System (Carroll County)
• Byrdstown Water Department (Pickett County)
• Henning Water Department (Lauderdale County)
• Huntingdon Water Department (Carroll County)
• Jasper Water Department (Marion County)
• Luttrell-Blaine-Corryton Utility District (Union County)
• North Stewart Utility District (Stewart County)
• Scotts Hill Water System (Henderson County)
• Spring City Water System (Rhea County)
• Tracy City Water System (Grundy County)

To qualify for the grants, drinking water systems must serve fewer than 10,000 people and be located in a county with an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent at the time of application. 

“I’m pleased to be able to work with our drinking water partners in these communities to train the next generation of certified drinking water operators in Tennessee,” said Fyke. 

Grant recipients must hire and retain trainees for at least 12 months. Environment and Conservation staff will make site visits throughout the year to ensure trainees are being adequately mentored. All training classes will be held at the Fleming Training Center, which is operated by Environment and Conservation and provides water and wastewater training, certification and technical assistance to systems across the state. Additional information about the Fleming Training Center can be found at www.tn.gov/environment/fleming.