There’s a legal battle on the border of Tennessee and Mississippi on the future of where sewage will go between the city of Memphis and its southern suburbs in the Magnolia State.
Federal lawsuits filed in recent days dispute a 2018 announcement by city of Memphis leaders to no longer treat Horn Lake and Southaven sewage when an existing agreement expires in 2023.
Mississippi leaders argue the move is a breach of contract. Memphis leaders hope a federal judge will agree with the city that it as the right to end the sewage agreement, while those in the Mississippi communities want a jury to reach the opposite decision. The wastewater services for thousands of people is at stake.
“We have been identifying that we have challenges in our system needing additional capacity,” city of Memphis Public Works Director Robert Knecht said.
The complaint filed by city of Memphis leaders December 17th contends those with the Horn Lake Creek Basin Interceptor Sewer District were given ample notice to find a wastewater treatment alternative by 2023 and haven’t produced a detailed plan.
“We’ve given you five years, if you need more time, you know, we can discuss that, share with me why you need more time, from an engineering perspective, what it would take to design, construct, and build the system you need to provide a service that for yourself, that was something I requested years ago. I’ve yet to see that,” Knecht said.
Leaders with the sewer district in DeSoto County responded with its own federal lawsuit December 20th, demanding a jury trial.
The complaint contends the end of the 40-year sewage contract in 2023 requires agreement from both parties, not just the city of Memphis. It also argues if the city of Memphis refuses the district’s wastewater, sewage will overflow near the state line, causing serious contamination to soil, groundwater, and surface water.
“We are not encouraging pollution, we are not encouraging anything, we are just asking them to start the process of separating themselves from our system,” Knecht said.
Local 24 News left messages with attorneys at separate firms representing the Horn Lake, Mississippi, area sewer district, but didn’t hear back.