Posted:8/25/2015 at 10:24:39 AM
August 25, 2015 City to make water system improvements ADA – In an effort to protect its current water supply, the City of Ada is set to begin a comprehensive overhaul of its water supply system. To fund these critical improvements, the city will gradually raise utility rates over a five-year span beginning October 1. This date deflects the rate change for usage. The increase won’t be reflected until the subsequent bill in December. With an estimated one million gallons of water lost between the source and the treatment plant each day at peak demands, the city and its residents cannot afford to rely on dilapidated infrastructure any longer. “This overhaul is long overdue,” said Ada City Manager Cody Holcomb. “Our newest transmission line from Byrds Mill Spring is approaching 40 years old. The other one was built in the 1930’s. It is our responsibility as city leaders to address this issue now so it doesn’t continue to deteriorate causing major – and potentially dangerous – problems for our children and grandchildren.” Crumbling infrastructure, however, isn’t the only challenge facing the city’s efforts to protect its water supply. Beginning in 1989, a chain of studies and legal decisions surrounding the status of the Arbuckle-Simpson Aquifer – which supplies Ada with its water via Byrds Mill Spring – has led to a dramatic reduction in water rights today. In short, the amount of ground water the city has permits for. With clean, fresh water fast becoming a premium resource, the city must begin this effort sooner rather than later. “Ada’s unique supply of high-quality spring water is the envy of communities all over the state and even the region,” Holcomb said. “We know we are blessed to have it and we want to make sure it’s available for the indefinite future.” The total cost for the entire water system improvement project is estimated at $31 million. This will pay for a larger brand new transmission line between Byrds Mill Spring and the city’s water treatment plant, as well as an additional water well, upgrades to the three existing water wells, Byrds Mill Spring, and the water treatment plant. The city will utilize a special revolving fund to finance the work. The project is scheduled to begin in October and should be completed by the spring of 2017. The fund, administered by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, offers the city a locked-in interest rate lower than those accompanying any conventional bank loan. Anticipating a rate increase to fund the overdue project, the city has worked with finance consultants to determine equitable adjustments, minimizing the impact to customers. The current monthly water rate for residential and commercial customers inside city limits starts with a minimum charge of $13.00, which includes the first 200 cubic feet of water used, and a charge of $2.51 per 100 cubic feet used after that. On October 1, the base charge will increase to $16.90 and $3.27, respectively. “While nobody wants to see increased rates, the fact is we all have to take action and share the cost of fixing this critical problem before it’s too late,” Holcomb said. Consultants also determined that other city utility rates needed to be adjusted in order to maintain and cover the actual cost of service being provided. As a result, sewer and garbage rates will also adjust along a five-year trajectory. The current sewer rate inside city limits includes a $12.85 minimum charge, which includes the first 200 cubic feet, and 74 cents per 100 cubic feet thereafter. Effective October 1, the minimum sewer charge will adjust to $16.70 and 96 cents respectively, with a cap of $29.81. The current monthly residential garbage collection fee is $16.55 for a 95-gallon polycart with recycling bin and $13.20 for a 65-gallon polycart with recycling bin. Effective January 1, 2016, the rates will adjust to $18.20 and $14.50 respectively. Unlike the water rates increase schedule, sewer and garbage rates – inside and outside city limits – will adjust incrementally in a different pattern over the next five years, in an effort to minimize the increases on customers. It should also be noted that, unlike water rates, sewer and garbage rates may vary for some commercial customers.
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