Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990 TAG: 9006220165
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With one dissenting vote, the city's Water Resources Committee voted Thursday to recommend the increases to pay for $32.6 million in improvements.
The recommendation will go to council at its meeting Monday.
It calls for water rates to increase by 12 percent in each of the next five years. Sewer rates would increase by 13 percent a year.
The combined monthly sewer and water bill for a typical Roanoke resident is $8.36, based on 4,500 gallons of water use, city officials said.
The average daily cost for water and sewer service for a typical customer is 28 cents. At the end of five years, this cost would be 45 cents if council approves the recommendation.
The rates for Roanoke residents at the end of five years would still be below the statewide average of 60 cents a day for water and sewer service, said Finance Director Joel Schlanger.
"We've got no choice but to do it," said Councilman Robert Garland. "Providing water and sewer service is one of the city's main responsibilities, along with police and fire protection."
Roanoke is facing increasing pressure from state agencies to upgrade and expand both its water-filter plants and the sewage-treatment plant, Herbert said.
Herbert said major improvements are needed to both sewer and water systems because they are operating at or near capacity.
The city has plenty of water, but needs to expand filter plants and upgrade its pumping station to avoid water pressure problems, he said.
"We've got the raw water in Carvins Cove, but the problem is that we don't have enough production and pumping capacity to get it to everybody in summer months when there is heavy usage," Herbert said.
Garland said he thinks that council may have "spoiled our residents by keeping rates so low for so many years."
Roanoke's water and sewer rates have historically been among the lowest in the state.
The city's last water rate increase was in 1976; the sewer rates last were raised in 1981.
Schlanger told the committee that a recent survey showed that Roanoke had the lowest combined rates for water and sewer in the state.
Councilwoman Elizabeth Bowles, chairwoman of the committee, and Mayor Noel Taylor supported the increases.
But Councilman Howard Musser dissented, saying he was opposed "for the time being." He left open the option that he might support the recommendation when council considers it.
City officials have proposed that the rates be increased gradually to help cushion the financial impact on residents.
The proposed improvements and cost estimates for the water system include:
Upgrading and expanding the Carvins Cove filter plant, $8.9 million.
A major transmission line from the Carvins Cove plant to the Delray Street pump station, $4.2 million.
A low-lift pump station expansion at the Carvins Cove plant, $2.3 million.
Improvements to the water intake at the Carvins Cove dam, $645,150.
Upgrading and expansion of the Falling Creek filter plant, $1 million.
The proposed improvements and estimates for the sewer system include:
Treatment plant expansion, $17 million.
Treatment plant renovations, $4.1 million.
Replacement of the Roanoke River interceptor line, $17.8 million.
Replacement of the Tinker Creek interceptor line, $4.6 million.
by CNB