When he first learned the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation was considering imposing a moratorium on sewer hookups on Signal Mountain, he thought the problem could be solved in about a year, the chairman of Hamilton County’s Waste Water Treatment Authority (WWTA) said Thursday night.

But as the complexity of the situation has become more apparent, it is now evident it will take at least two to three years to solve the community’s sewage treatment and collection problems, Henry Hoss explained during a public meeting.

In fact, he said, it may take as long as five years.

The Signal Mountain treatment plant’s permit authorizes it to treat up to 400,000 gallons of waste per day, and its normal dry weather flow is about 250,000 gallons.

But the plant is unable to treat the estimated 3 million gallons of combined rainwater and waste it receives during heavy storms and, consequently, has released partially treated waste into the Tennessee River more than 150 times during recent years.

For example, Mr. Hoss said Thursday, when Signal Mountain received 2.5 inches of rain on Wednesday evening, the plant was forced to release untreated water into the river.

WWTA has entered into an agreement with TDEC to correct such problems, Mr. Hoss said, and consequently will not have to pay up to $10,000 in fines for each day that violations continue. Instead, that money can be used to find ways to reduce the amount of stormwater and groundwater that winds up in lines that are supposed to carry sewage.

Meanwhile, a few hook-ups will still be allowed, officials said.

The moratorium will not affect:

* Residences where documented septic tank failures have occurred.

* Existing structures where residents already are paying for sewer availability, although they have not yet hooked into the line.

* Developments or lots with sewer hook-up agreements predating June 11, 2007, the day the moratorium took effect.

TDEC imposed the moratorium because Signal Mountain’s wastewater treatment plant – which WWTA operates – has repeatedly violated environmental regulations during the past three years. The agency is also concerned about streams on top of the mountain that are contaminated by sewage, a health hazard that is often caused by septic tanks that are not working properly.

WWTA is now negotiating with the Moccasin Bend Regional Waste Water Treatment Plant to determine whether the overflow water can be sent to the regional plant, rather than dumped into the river. But that solution would be costly, he warned, and could mean that Signal Mountain sewer users would be assessed more than the $4.04 per 1,000 gallons of water.

He said it is also possible that residents of Hidden Brook and other existing subdivisions with widespread septic tank failures could be hooked into the sewage collection system, provided at least 60 percent of residents agree to participate and help pay construction costs.

Dr. Richard Urban, who is over TDEC’s local water pollution control division, told the crowd that Signal Mountain’s current dilemma is the natural consequence of years of failing to deal with the sewer problems that have plagued the community for decades.