Tyrone’s lack of sewer capacity could have a devastating impact on the downtown area.

Town manager Barry Amos told the City Council Thursday night that he had recent discussions with the Fayette County School System about Tyrone Elementary School.

“The question is not if, but when, their septic system will fail. There’s no room on the property to build an another septic field,” he said.

Amos said the school is a viable part of the community, and if the system failed, the school system would be forced to shutter its doors. Amos broached the subject after hearing a representative from Scarbrough and Rolader development ask for sewer at a 6-acre tract at the corner of Ga. Highway 74 and Jenkins Road.

“It would be a good fit, but we just don’t have any excess capacity,” Amos said.

He estimated the town has about 8,000 gallons a day of capacity left from the original 250,000 gallons that Fairburn provided the town. But with more development slated for the area around Chaps on Hwy.74, Amos said he would not be able to commit future sewer service to any potential customer.

Councilman Paul Letourneau said he was in favor of seeing how much it would cost the town to get more capacity from Fairburn, because he would like to see sewer in the downtown area and said it may have to be used for the new library site on Commerce Drive, if the soil doesn’t percolate.

Councilman Grace Caldwell agreed, but said she was still concerned that a new sewer contract had not been finalized with Fairburn.

“It’s costing the citizens of tyrone a lot of money,” she said.

Amos said he would meet with all the government leaders to see if additional sewer capacity was available for the town to purchase.