Daryl Williamson had a number of things to sort out when he took over as Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority’s chief executive officer last month.

Among that on the agenda was monitoring the construction of a massive pipeline under the Tennessee River that will allow Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority to more than double its overall water capacity.

The $23 million project will allow LCWSA to purchase enough water to serve the county’s booming southeast corridor, most of which has been annexed by the cities of Huntsville and Madison.

“This will ensure we have an adequate supply of water for the future,” said Williamson. “The residents of Limestone County don’t have to worry about their water needs. The addition of this infrastructure would adequately supply water for Limestone County.”

According to Williamson, the ambitious project is about a year ahead of schedule and nearly half completed.

The construction is broken down into two parts: The first being the construction of a pipeline under the river and the second is a pump station that will push the water through the system.

Both parts of the construction are said to be “45 to 50 percent” completed and nearly a year ahead of schedule.

While there has been a learning curve during his first five weeks on the job, Williamson is quick to compliment his staff at the LCWSA.

“The staff here has been great to work with,” said Williamson. “They’ve been very patient with me, teaching me the ins and outs of Limestone County water. Everyone has been very receptive.”

By the numbers

As of February 2017, LCWSA has 51 employees that serve approximately 22,000 customers in Limestone County. The department has an annual revenue of $16 million.

Labor costs in 2016 were at 25 percent for the department, but Williamson anticipated the current labor cost is closer to 15 to 20 percent following the elimination of several high-paying positions last year.