The Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Authority is adding an $8-a-month fee to the bills of 24,000 homes and businesses in the county that rely on gravity sewer systems.

Authority board members approved the surcharge at their May 7 meeting.

The revenue will go to improving lateral lines — those connecting buildings to main sewer lines — over the next 20 years.

A public meeting will be held Tuesday at Nolan Elementary School on Signal Mountain where authority staff members will explain the fee and its implementation, Chairman Henry Hoss said.

“What most people don’t understand is it really costs more to take care of dirty water than clean water,” Mr. Hoss said.

Lookout Mountain, Red Bank and East Ridge are the next in line for inspections, testing and repairs after Signal Mountain, according to Soddy-Daisy Mayor Bob Privett, who is also a WWTA board member. Others in the WWTA are Ridgeside, Lakesite and unincorporated areas of the county.

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