News

City may accept Etowah system's wastewater before 'catastrophic failure'

By Bill Moss, Published: June 5, 2026

The city of Hendersonville has agreed to the concept of accepting the wastewater flow from the Etowah sewer system, signaling a possible city-county path for "taking this plant that is near catastrophic failure offline," as City Manager John Connet described it.

The request to the city came from the Henderson County Board of Commissioners, which also delivered an identical ask to Buncombe-based Metropolitan Sewer District. A consultant's report presented six options for replacement or abandonment of the sewer plant, including connections to MSD or Hendersonville’s sewer system for treatment. During a May 4 county commission meeting Chairman Bill Lapsley requested a written response from MSD of Buncombe and the city on the idea.

Mayor pro tem Jennifer Hensley said the city should make clear in any agreement that it has no intention of exerting zoning authority in Etowah.

"By us choosing to accept their sewer, because it's not in good shape out there — this is not the city trying to expand our sewer system," she said. "This is not us trying to develop in rural Henderson County."

Connet emphasized that the city and county are just now toeing the starting line of negotiations. A  memo he sent to the council on the topic also addressed the city's position. 

"If we accept the flow from the Etowah Sewer System, local land-use control and regulatory authority will remain with Henderson County," it said. "The Etowah community is outside the city’s statutory authority for annexation and outside of the city’s self-imposed growth boundary. Therefore, annexation would not be required or permitted for sewer service in this area."