Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 30, 1990 TAG: 9005300382
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"There is no question that rate increases are needed if the capital improvements at the sewage plant and water plants are made," Finance Director Joel Schlanger said.
Schlanger said Tuesday it's too early to talk about the size of the increases, but consultants have told city officials that higher rates will be required to pay for the improvements.
Consultants have estimated it will cost $31 million to expand the sewage treatment plant and replace several major sewer transmission lines.
The city also is considering an expansion of the Carvins Cove water filtration plant. The Falling Creek filtration plant also needs to be upgraded.
The regional sewage treatment plant serves Roanoke, Salem, Vinton, Roanoke County and Botetourt County although it is operated by Roanoke.
Consultants have recommended that the plant be expanded and other improvements made in the next five years so there would be capacity to handle growth in the next 20 years.
The plan calls for expansion of the plant's treatment capacity from 35 million to 62 million gallons a day. The plant's storage capacity would be increased from 60 million to 90 million gallons a day.
Consultants have estimated that more than half of the money - about $16 million - would be needed to replace sections of the Roanoke River and Tinker Creek interceptor lines.
The costs for the plant expansion and new transmission lines would be shared by the localities that use it.
A substantial portion of the projected growth in the valley in the next two decades is expected to occur in Roanoke and Botetourt counties.
Roanoke County has requested expansion of the plant to help accommodate the projected growth. City officials are expected to begin negotiations soon with county officials to determine the county's share of the costs.
City officials also have said that other improvements would have to be made if proposed new water-quality standards for streams are adopted by the Virginia Water Control Board.
The proposed regulations would require the city to reduce the levels of metal-base chemicals such as aluminum, iron and zinc that could be discharged into the Roanoke River.
by CNB