Collapsed Wastewater Basin in Tennessee to be Replaced

August 31, 2011

The operators of Gatlinburg’s wastewater treatment plant say a concrete basin that collapsed, killing two workers and allowing millions of gallons of sewage to spill into the Little Pigeon River, will be demolished and replaced.

The collapse during a period of heavy rain April 5 killed 53-year-old John Eslinger and 44-year-Don Storey, employees of Veolia Water North America, which operates the city-owned plant.

Company spokeswoman Karole Colangelo said demolition of the wrecked basin will begin in October, according to The Knoxville News Sentinel.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation has recently expressed concerns about a temporary system the plant has been using in the treatment of sewage.

A spokesman for the department said a final report on the collapse is still likely a couple of weeks away.

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