Building Reliability: Metro Water’s Backup Generator Project

If you’ve driven down 2nd Ave N past the Central Water Reclamation Facility campus lately, you may have noticed some overnight activity and quite a few concrete trucks. Metro Water Services recently completed a major concrete pour as part of our new backup generator project, marking a major milestone toward keeping our operations resilient and reliable.

Crews placed 390 cubic yards of concrete, smoothing and finishing it to create a clean, durable foundation. To put that scale into perspective, 390 cubic yards is enough to pour a standard 4-foot-wide, 4-inch-thick neighborhood sidewalk stretching for 8,300 linear feet, which is over a mile and a half. Now that’s a lot of concrete!

This new slab will ultimately support five large natural gas generators designed to power the entire facility whenever our primary electricity supply is interrupted.

Why pour at night?

A project of this scale requires smart logistical planning. The job required roughly 40 concrete trucks to cycle in and out of the facility over a short window of time. Nighttime traffic lows ensured trucks stayed on schedule and minimized the risk of accidents with other vehicles or pedestrians.

Pouring during cooler hours also avoids heat-related curing issues, that can compromise the quality of the newly poured concrete. Furthermore, it provided a safer and more comfortable environment for the crew during a hot and humid Tennessee August. It is a priority for Metro Water to make sure everyone involved in the project stays cool and safe.

Now that the foundation is curing under blankets and soaker hoses, the project is moving full steam ahead! Once complete, it will play a big role in keeping our facilities cost efficient and prepared for whatever Tennessee weather throws our way.

Why does this matter to you?

When severe storms roll through, temperatures spike or plunge, or routine maintenance happens on the electric grid, our treatment process must keep running without missing a beat. Generators mean water can continue being properly treated and safely returned to the Cumberland River, even during major power outages. Whether treating wastewater or producing clean drinking water these systems allow our facilities to completely isolate from the main power grid during emergencies.

And here’s another cool part: these generators aren’t just for emergencies. They’re designed to run during times when regional electricity rates are unusually high, like hot summer afternoons or early, frigid winter mornings. This helps reduce costs and ease strain on the larger power grid. By reducing our dependence on the main grid during these peak hours, Metro Water optimizes energy use and lowers our overall environmental impact. It is all part of our broader commitment to a clean, green, and future-oriented operations that protect Nashville’s future.

Metro Water Services is dedicated to delivering clean water not just today, but for years to come.