Lawrence County, Tennessee is situated in the southern middle part of the state, just over the Alabama state line. The region is rich in natural amenities and has significant economic development potential, but complex water infrastructure management and development can make it difficult to capitalize on that potential. Many systems face common water infrastructure challenges seen across the nation such as aging infrastructure, water loss, and capacity limitations.
Leoma Utility District (LUD), serving water to approximately 6,200 people in the south central portion of Lawrence County. The system purchases about 5% of its water from neighboring Lawrenceburg, but has an unaccounted water loss of greater than 35%. A series of technical, financial, and managerial challenges led to a state-mandated study to explore options for LUD to merge with another system in the county. The Tennessee Board of Utility Regulation (TBOUR) at the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury is increasingly requiring these regionalization feasibility studies for entities that are chronically distressed. Water Finance Exchange (WFX) become engaged with LUD to complete the required regionalization feasibility study in compliance with the TBOUR requirement.