Duck River advocates push back as Columbia considers water rate hikes

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Columbia could soon raise their water rates. 

City leaders are exploring an ordinance from their utility, Columbia Power and Water Systems, that would increase customer water rates by 20% each year until the end of the decade.

The rate hike would start Jan. 1, 2026, and would fund a $500 million project to take in water from Duck River, further downstream from their current intake system.

“Moving the intake downstream (34 miles) of the clean water (plant) allows CPWS to recapture it, treat it at an expanded water treatment plant and send it back to you,” CPWS explained in an online video. “Doing this allows for better preservation of the Duck River and ensures the community has clean drinking water for years to come.”

Many residents along the Duck River believe this is an overstep from Columbia Power. 

“They’re bullies,” Duck River Conservancy President Doug Jones said. “They need rate payers to pay for this stupid project. Affordability is a huge issue for everyone, and especially low-income and senior citizens in Columbia. How are they going to afford this? It’s crazy.”

On many occasions, including in 2024, parts of the Duck River have dried up during the summer months. Jones, like many residents along the waterway, is passionate about a solution that protects the river.

What Columbia Power is planning isn’t one of them, in his opinion.

“It’s gonna drain the Duck River,” Jones said. “We’re very concerned about that. There’s no need. Maury County Water Services, they could sell to Columbia Power. There’s no need to do this.”

This year, Gov. Bill Lee launched a planning partnership between the state and other agencies, focused on the future of the Duck River watershed.

“We need a pipeline; we need to raise Normandy Dam,” Jones said. “Governor Lee understands this. We need drought restrictions.”

Jones praised the governor’s efforts. But what Columbia Power is trying to accomplish with their intake project confuses him. 

“Why they want to have a Civil War over southern/middle Tennessee, I don’t know. We’re good people; we would work with them. So would all the other utilities up and down the river,” Jones told News 2. “They are bullies, they want to take over everybody!”

News 2 reached out to Columbia Power and Water for comment. They told us that rate increases are necessary to acquire the loans needed to start this project.