Decatur Utilities and the DU Natural Gas Department have been recognized as a recipient of the 2024-2027 System Operational Achievement Recognition (SOAR) SILVER Award – presented by the American Public Gas Association (APGA). The award recognizes DU’s efforts to improve its operational capabilities, overcome challenges, and adapt to its changing environment.   Operations Manager Gary Borden accepted the award at this week's APGA Annual Conference on behalf of DU and the Natural Gas Department. Out of approximately 750 APGA members, Decatur Utilities was selected by its peer utilities on the APGA Operations and Safety Committee.  The award reflects DU’s demonstration of excellence in system integrity, system improvement, employee safety, and workforce development. DU has previously won the SOAR Bronze Award in 2018 and 2022. System integrity refers to the natural gas distribution system performing its overall intended function safely, efficiently and effectively. System improvement refers to keeping the natural gas system well maintained and up-to-date. Employee safety refers to systems that exhibit excellence in programs that stress educational involvement and accountability. Workforce development refers to a focus on creative recruitment, training, education and development practices. To earn the Silver Award, DU scored between 90% and 96% on the evaluation. DU improved it's previous Bronze Award scores in the System Integrity and System Improvement categories by answering the award questions accurately, updating Gas Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) procedures, committing to pipe safety continuous improvement and holding annual mock drills. APGA President and CEO Bert Kalisch offered his congratulations to the Decatur Utilities team.  “DU serves as a model for all other natural gas utilities in the country,” Kalisch said. “APGA is proud to recognize DU and is confident in its continued success.” DU General Manager Ray Hardin expressed his appreciation for DU’s recognition and commended the DU employee team as well.  “Decatur Utilities takes natural gas safety and system integrity very seriously,” he said. “We appreciate being recognized by APGA as a SOAR award recipient.” 2024 SOAR Award Video:

In an effort to provide a safe, economical, efficient, and environmentally sound sanitary sewer system throughout the City of Decatur, Decatur Utilities periodically performs smoke testing of its sewer system. This year's 2024 testing begins July 29th and will last for several weeks. Video Industrial Services is the authorized DU contractor performing this testing. Here’s how it works. Authorized crews from Video Industrial Services will use a device to inject smoke into a sewer manhole, then watch to see if smoke escapes through the ground or through storm drains indicating the presence of damaged pipe or cross-connection. Crews will note the location of the problem and schedule repairs. Note: We only schedule repairs to DU’s sewer mains and portions of the sewer service up to the Right of Way. If the homeowner’s system is properly tied into the DU sewer system, smoke will come out of the homeowner’s vent pipe. (As shown below.) If no smoke comes out, that may indicate a problem in the homeowner’s system. DU’s goal is to keep storm water out of our sewer lines. When storm water or ground water enters the sewer system through damaged pipes or mistaken connections from storm water sources, it takes up valuable capacity in our sewer lines – especially during heavy rain. One common problem discovered in smoke testing is homeowner’s broken clean-out caps. When the clean-out cap is damaged, storm water and debris can come into DU’s sewer lines. Smoke test also benefits the customer by alerting them to dangers such as uncapped sewage lines which could allow sewer gases to enter the home. The customer is responsible for repairs to their own plumbing system. It is important to note that the smoke used for smoke testing is safe and non-toxic. Important Notice to Residents: Water can evaporate from unused plumbing fixtures. If you have a bathroom, plumbing fixture, or basement floor drain that is not used or is seldom used, please pour at least two gallons of water into these fixtures the day before the scheduled smoke testing. You can find technical data for the smoke used in smoke testing at www.hurcotech.com/liquismoke . More information and a short video on the process is available at: www.decaturutilities.com/smoketesting

The Decatur Utilities Board of Directors on June 19 voted to approve an expenditure for engineering design services related to construction of a fiber ring that will connect all DU facilities and serve only the utility's internal needs for high-speed data communication. The board concurred with DU management's recommendation that DU not pursue becoming an Internet Service Provider for end-use retail customers at this time. "We were encouraged by the projected subscription rates that the market survey determined," said Ray Hardin, Decatur Utilities General Manager. "But in the end analysis, we felt it was more financially prudent to implement the fiber ring for internal use only and reserve the right to revisit retail applications in the future." Hardin said broadband is a highly competitive landscape in the Decatur area. If subscriptions by retail customers had not met projections, the resulting decrease in revenue would have pushed profitability out past the estimated 15-18 year mark. Other factors include continued volatility in construction materials and labor costs, high interest rates and aggressive pricing by competing providers. The DU Board approved $110,000 to fund engineering design services for the 47-mile fiber network. Once that design is completed, the project will be put out for bid and a consultant identified to assist with project and construction management. The construction phase will require final approval by the DU Board and Decatur City Council. It is estimated at $4.5 million. "We expect construction could begin early in 2025," Hardin said. The proposed fiber ring will support the DU Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network, automation of the electric grid, DU's Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system which allow for remote meter reading, and the Demand Side Management (DSM) system. Uptown Services, LLC, who completed the Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) feasibility study and market survey for Decatur Utilities, will design the network.

The official start of summer is still a couple of weeks away - but temps are already hitting 90º! Here are some tips to save energy (and money) during hot weather while maintaining comfort. ​The Department of Energy recommends that you set your air conditioner thermostat to 78ºF (or as high as is comfortable for you) and bump it up by 5º to 7º when you leave for an extended period of time. (Heat pumps are designed to efficiently overcome about a 20 degree difference in outside and inside temperatures.) Operate your dryer and dishwasher after 8 p.m. on hot days and let your dishes air dry. In fact, it’s best to avoid the use of any major appliances between 2 and 8 p.m. Why? Appliances generate additional heat - which your cooling unit must overcome. Avoid heat-generating incandescent lighting and use a microwave, toaster or outdoor grill instead of the oven when possible. Close blinds during the day (to keep out solar heat) and open them at night. Set your ceiling fans to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. This will create a “wind chill” effect that make the room temperature feel cooler. And here are a few more tips that apply all year long: Caulk and install weather-stripping around windows and doors to stop air leaks. Make sure you have at least 10” of blown attic insulation over all heated and cooled areas. (10" equals approximately R38.) Seal gaps in floors and walls around pipes and wiring. Service your HVAC unit ANNUALLY and change air filters MONTHLY. Inspect ductwork and repair any gaps. Keep your outside air unit clean and clear of debris. Keep all windows and doors near your thermostat closed tightly. Keep heat sources such as lamps and appliances away from your thermostat. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents or LEDs – they use 75% less energy. Turn off lights, televisions and other electronics or appliances when not in use. Install aerating, low-flow faucets and shower heads. Fix any leaky faucets – one drop per second can add up to 165 gallons a month. Wrap your water heater with insulation or install an insulating blanket. Reduce hot water use by taking shorter showers and using cold water for the rinse cycle in your washer.

On Tuesday, May 28th, the Decatur Utilities Board of Directors approved almost $120M to fund two major improvements to the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the sanitary sewer collection system. $95M will be allocated to replace the Influent Pump Station and Headworks (IPS/Headworks) at the WWTP and $25M will fund installation of a new Moulton Street Collector sewer main. Garney Construction Co. of Nashville, Tennessee was low bidder for the IPS/Headworks project and John Plott Company of Tuscaloosa, Alabama was low-bidder for the Moulton Street Collector project. Pending final approval by the Decatur City Council, construction for both projects should begin later this summer. Both projects are major components of DU's ongoing Sewer Rehabilitation Plan to mitigate and minimize sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) as required by a settlement agreement with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management reached in 2021. Since that time, DU has replaced 325,000 linear feet (LF) of sewer mains and 5,000 sewer services. Work has also begun on rehabilitating the Clark Springs Collector main in Southwest Decatur. DU's aggressive rehab efforts over the last three years have begun to yield promising results, as the last rain-induced SSO occurred in March of 2022 - more than two years ago. IPS/Headworks Project: The existing IPS/Headworks equipment at the WWTP has been in continuous operation for almost 33 years and is nearing the end of its expected useful life. The age of the current IPS/Headworks and its design can restrict flow of wastewater through the WWTP, causing it to back up into Sewer Basin 1 collector mains. This condition - known as "surcharge" - can eventually back up through manholes and result in rain-induced SSOs. For reference, DU has 17 sewer basin throughout its wastewater system service areas. All other sewer basins feed Sewer Basin 1 which in turn transports the collected wastewater to the WWTP. The design of the new IPS/Headworks will eliminate the surcharge condition in Sewer Basin 1, improve WWPT operational capabilities and provide additional flow capacity within the sanitary sewer collection system to meet current and future demand. The project is expected to begin later this summer take three years to complete. Moulton Street Collector: The Moulton Street Collector will consist of 7,400 LF of new 60-inch ductile iron sewer main that will run from Moulton St. through Sewer Basin 1 to the WWTP. The new 60" collector line will allow for greater capacity to transport wastewater collected from other sewer basins in the city to the WWTP. Work is expected to begin later this summer and take approximately two years to complete. How Will This Expenditure Be Funded? The majority of the almost $120M approved by the DU Board for the IPS/Headworks and Moulton St. Collector projects will be paid for out of bond funds borrowed in 2021 to fund the Sewer Rehabilitation Project.  The original bond amount borrowed was $165M with almost $4M in interested earned to-date. Of that total, approximately $71M has been spent on sewer main rehabilitation projects that have been completed or are currently under contract. In addition, funds are committed for the Clark Springs Collector project, a new lift station, a voltage upgrade project at the WWTP and engineering services related to the IPS/Headworks and Moulton St. Collector projects. The $120M cost of the projects will be paid for from remaining bond funds and the wastewater system's cash reserves. Because of the reallocation of remaining bond funds to these projects, the total linear footage of rehabilitated sewer mains will be reduced from a total of 500,000 to 400,000 linear feet for FY2021-FY2025.  However, DU will continue to fund ongoing sewer main rehabilitation projects from its annual operations budget in following years. "This will be a generational project for Decatur Utilities that will impact current and future customers for many years to come," said Ray Hardin, Decatur Utilities General Manager. "These two projects - combined with the rest of the sewer rehabilitation plan - will continue to reduce rain-induced SSOs and position us to meet future residential, commercial and industrial growth over the next several decades." ###

Decatur Utilities, in partnership with TVA, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), City of Decatur and Seven States Power Corporation, is excited to announce the installation of two Level 3 Fast Electric Vehicle charging stations in the parking lot off Holly St. located between the Princess Theatre and the Cook Museum of Natural History.  A dedication for the new charging station was held on Thursday, May 16. This installation is part of the regional Fast Charge Network that will cover major travel corridors across TVA’s seven-state service area and will complement the broader efforts of the National Electric Highway Coalition, which seeks to enable long-distance EV travel by placing fast chargers along interstates and major highways throughout the United States. "DU is pleased to participate in this endeavor," said Ray Hardin, General Manager of Decatur Utilities.  "Electric vehicles are becoming more popular with each passing year and this will ensure that motorists have access to a rapid charging station - whether they are local residents or visitors traveling through our area." TVA and ADECA provided the funding, the City of Decatur provided two parking spaces and Seven States Power Corporation coordinated the project with DU's Electric Engineering team.  Hardin credited that collaboration with making the project a reality.  "This did not involve any direct funds from our ratepayers," he said. "However, they will reap the benefit of having a rapid charging station here in the DU service area." Customers using the chargers pay a retail rate for the electricity used. “TVA is partnering with local power companies like Decatur Utilities and state agencies like ADECA to invest in charging infrastructure across the Tennessee Valley region because electric vehicles benefit everyone,” said Jared Mitchem, TVA Regional Vice President - South.  “These investments allow TVA to save drivers money and attract good jobs and tourism– all powered by electricity from TVA and your local power company.” “Seven States is trusted by local power companies across the Tennessee Valley to deliver EV charging technology for their consumers,” said Betsey Kirk McCall, President and CEO of Seven States Power Corporation.  “Impactful partnerships like this benefit the local community and regional economy." Dobbs & Company Electrical Contractors (DCED) installed the two Level 3 rapid chargers.  Level 3 Direct Current (DC) chargers have power output from 60kW to 120kW which can charge the average Electric Vehicle to 80% within 30 minutes. To learn more about the Fast Charge Network, calculate how much money an EV could save you or locate EV charging stations on your travel route, check out https://energyright.com/ev/.

Decatur Utilities joins communities across North America in celebrating Drinking Water Week, an annual observance led by the American Water Works Association. Taking place May 5-11 this year, Drinking Water Week serves to highlight the importance of safe drinking water and recognize the tireless efforts of water professionals who keep it flowing around the clock in our communities. This year's celebration also coincides with a historic milestone – the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in the United States, a landmark law designed to safeguard the public by setting high drinking water quality standards. The SDWA provides a scientific framework to identify potential risks to drinking water and address them in partnership with states and water utilities. The Decatur Utilities Water Resources Group is tasked with treating millions of gallons of water each day. The plant has received numerous awards over the years including the Alabama Water Pollution Control Association (AWPCA) "Best Operated Plant" Award for 2018-2022, the AWPCA Best Operated Distribution System Award in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and the Alabama Department of Environmental Protection (ADEM) Optimized Plant Award for ten consecutive years, 2012-2022. Optimization means the DU Water Treatment Plant meets or exceeds all state and federal mandates for water quality. DU recently announced that its drinking water test results show PFAS levels that are below the new Environmental Protection Agency's new Maximum Contamination Levels. DU customers will be receiving DU's annual 2024 Water Quality Report as an insert in their May bills. It can also be downloaded at www.decaturutilities.com/water. To celebrate the week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools, and others throughout North America will help children and consumers of all ages understand how water is protected, cleaned, and delivered throughout their communities.

The Decatur Utilities Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant has been presented with the 2023 Plant Excellence Award for Plants Greater than 10 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD) from the Alabama Water Environment Association (AWEA) (1). Members from various wastewater treatment utilities inspected the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant for excellence in operation based on standardized criteria. The criteria include treatment operations and maintenance of each unit process, the complexity of treatment processes (i.e., advanced treatment), process control and monitoring, laboratory quality control, records inventory, equipment calibration, plant appearance, safety programs, operator attitudes, and organization membership. Additionally, any documentation of energy efficiency initiatives coupled with the facility’s age earns corresponding bonus points to the overall score. DU Water Resources Manager Tom Cleveland said the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant has a long history of winning operational awards. "Protecting the environment is something we take seriously at DU," said Cleveland, "and receiving this award on a regular basis is a testament to dedication of our operators and environmental team. Our board is supportive of the investments that need to be made to ensure the treatment process meets or exceeds the requirements of our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (2). Those investments give our employee team the tools needed to be successful in our mission." DU General Manager Ray Hardin echoed Cleveland's sentiments. "We have a great team here at DU that is dedicated to providing outstanding utility service across all areas of operation - including the important task of collecting and treatment wastewater so it is safely returned to our environment." The DU Wastewater Treatment Plant treats approximately nine billion gallons of wastewater each year. The plant has two Grade IV Certified Operators present 24/7/365 and a supporting team of maintenance mechanics and electricians keep the plant running at peak efficiency. 1 - About Alabama’s Water Environment Association (AWEA): Alabama’s Water Environment Association (AWEA) is a state-wide affiliate organization of the Water Environment Federation. AWEA is a not-for-profit, educational, and technical organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and managing Alabama’s waters since 1977. 2 - About the NPDES: The Clean Water Act prohibits anybody from discharging "pollutants" through a "point source" into a "water of the United States" unless they have an NPDES permit. The permit will contain limits on what you can discharge, monitoring and reporting requirements, and other provisions to ensure that the discharge does not hurt water quality or people's health. In essence, the permit translates general requirements of the Clean Water Act into specific provisions tailored to the operations of each person discharging pollutants.

The Decatur Utilities Board of Directors approved a resolution on Thursday, April 18, accepting DU's annual Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Program (MWPP) reported that DU had zero rain-induced Sanitary Sewer Overflows during CY2023. The last reported rain-induced SSO occurred in March of 2022 - more than two years ago. The MWPP is an initiative by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the public's investment in wastewater treatment facilities and to take action before violations of permit limits and degradation of water quality occur. Under the MWPP grading system, DU received just 10 points - compared to 113 points in CY2022, when 13 SSOs occurred. The 10 points assigned for CY2023 were solely for the age of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Decatur Utilities General Manager Ray Hardin said the outstanding MWPP for CY23 is reflective of the significant reduction in rain-induced SSOs seen since the 10-year sanitary sewer rehabilitation plan began in 2021. "This rehab effort is already showing outstanding results," Hardin said. "I'm very proud of how our Gas, Water, Wastewater Operations are managing such a massive undertaking. Construction of a new headworks at the WWTP and other associated projects will continue to improve the efficiency of our sanitary sewer collection and treatment infrastructure." Jimmy Evans, GWWW Operations Manager, said approximately 300,000 linear feet of sewer mains have been replaced so far. In addition, approximately 800 manholes have been refurbished. The reduction in rain-induced SSOs can be attributed to the installation of the new pipe and the fact that rain water is no longer able to infiltrate the system as much as in years past. Tom Cleveland, Water Resources Manager, said construction of the new headworks at the WWTP is slated to begin later this year.

On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released information regarding its final rule establishing drinking water standards and maximum contaminant levels (MCL) for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Within five years (2029), DU and other systems will be required to have PFAS levels that are below the final MCL enforceable levels listed above. For the past seven quarters reported, Decatur Utilities drinking water test results have been BELOW the new MCLs. By 2027, DU and other water systems must include results of initial monitoring  and regular monitoring for PFAS for compliance in its annual Consumer Confidence Report as well as issue public notifications for any monitoring or reporting violations. PFAS testing data is currently included in DU's annual Consumer Confidence Report. "We have been expecting this final rule for several months," said Ray Hardin, General Manager for Decatur Utilities. "In the fall of 2022, we proactively engaged Jacobs Engineering, a nationally-renowned expert in PFAS treatment, to perform a study to recommend PFAS treatment options alternatives that will ensure PFAS levels are below the new MCLs. That study is in its concluding phase and we will have the final recommendations in the next few months. DU will review the alternatives and select the best treatment option(s) for a 12-18 month pilot test at the Water Treatment Plant.  Following that test, DU will begin the process of designing and implementing the final selected treatment option." Hardin stressed that DU takes compliance with EPA standards very seriously. "Our customers can be assured that DU will take the steps necessary to continue our compliance with the new standards," he said. "Our mission has always been - and continues to be - providing safe drinking water that meets or exceeds all EPA mandates for safety and quality." For a comprehensive look at DU’s water quality testing results, customers can visit https://www.decaturutilities.com/water to view and download the 2024 Consumer Confidence Report with results for testing between Jan - Dec, 2023. Customers will receive a hard copy of the report in their May bills. More information: PFAS Explained https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained

With colder weather here, your heating system is working overtime to maintain a comfortable level in your home. Here are some tips to conserve energy and keep your upcoming bills from skyrocketing! Set your thermostat to as low as setting as you can while remaining safe and comfortable. (68 degrees is the temp the Dept. of Energy recommends for max savings on your energy usage.) With the extreme cold we are expecting, expensive auxiliary strip heat will be called on to supplement your heat pump and natural gas usage will also increase. Here's how you can offset that lower thermostat setting: Set your ceiling fan to turn in a clockwise direction to keep warm air from getting trapped at the ceiling. Bundle up or wear layered clothing. Also - Use caulk or weather stripping to seal up cracks and crevices around doors and windows. Even newspaper, paper towels or old strips of cloth will work as a temporary measure. Examine your attic to make sure you have at least 10" of insulation above all heated and cooled areas of your home. If not, supplement to achieve this coverage. Keep window blinds or curtains open to allow solar energy in. Close them at night to retain that warmth. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use. Set your water heater to 120 degrees.

Decatur Utilities to begin 2023 natural gas system leak survey Beginning Tuesday, September 12, 2023, Decatur Utilities will begin a quality control leak survey of the DU natural gas system to ensure public safety and the proper operation of gas lines and meters. This survey is required by the Federal Department of Transportation-Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) and The Alabama Public Service Commission (PSC). As required annually, the survey will check for leaks in all natural gas mains and business/commercial service lines in Decatur. One-fifth of residential service lines are checked each year. This year’s residential survey area includes an area bordered by Auburn Dr. SW/Carridale St. SW on the south, Tennessee River on the north, Danville Rd./Memorial Dr. SW on the east and areas west along Hwy. 20 to Courtland. This area is represented in PURPLE on the map below. This project will involve a slow-moving vehicle (approximately 5 MPH) in streets, alleys and highways throughout Decatur. A portion of the work may be conducted at night when traffic is lighter. Some parts of the gas system are only accessible by foot by a technician using handheld gas detection instruments. The survey work will be conducted by Heath Consultants Inc. of Houston, Texas, a specialist in gas leak detection. Vehicles operated by Heath Consultants Inc. will have signs on the vehicle identifying the company and identifying them as an “Authorized Decatur Utilities Contractor.” In order to check for service line leaks, the Heath Consultants employee will require access to customer property and the gas meter. Heath Consultants employees will have identification and will explain their purpose for being on private property. During this survey, gas leaks found on Decatur Utilities equipment will be repaired and gas service restored. If gas leaks found are not on Decatur Utilities equipment, the homeowner or business will be notified and gas service will be disconnected until repairs are completed by the homeowner or business. It is anticipated this work will be completed by December 15, 2023.