THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509010204
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Guest Column
SOURCE: BY WILLIAM E. WARD
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Your editorial ``Water rates: More for less'' (The Clipper, Aug. 25) contained information that needs some clarification. I would like to take this opportunity to do just that.
As summer draws to a close, water remains on the minds of Chesapeake residents. This is especially true for residents of Greenbrier, Great Bridge and other areas of the city served by the Northwest River Water Treatment Plant. I am one of those residents, and recently the water in our part of Chesapeake, simply put, does not taste good.
As a water customer, I don't like the taste any better than anyone. However, as mayor of Chesapeake, I know there is more to the story.
To begin with, most of our residents have never experienced the salty taste in their water and never will. The Northwest River serves a limited part of the community. South Norfolk, Indian River, Western Branch and other areas of Chesapeake are not affected.
Secondly, the problem of salty tasting water is temporary. It only happens when the weather is especially dry and southerly winds push salt water up the river from North Carolina. Over the past several years, many summers have come and gone without this problem.
The problem is temporary in another sense as well. The City Council has already approved a desalination system for the water treatment plant. Designs are completed and requests for bids go out this fall. These improvements are mandated by the federal government for the city to meet the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Cities across the nation are doing similar upgrades.
Upgrading the water treatment plant is not being done in response to the salt water intrusion, but the added benefits is the total elimination of this problem. For two more summers, we will be at the mercy of Mother Nature. But in 1998, when the upgrade is completed, we will be free of the salty tasting water forever.
This is not wishful thinking or speculation, and none of this depends on the water bond referendum passing in November. These things have to be done, and the city is doing them. As Hampton Roads residents know, good water has a cost. The City Council recently needed to pass a water rate increase to begin to pay for the upcoming water plant improvements.
In the November referendum, voters are not being asked to approve upgrading the water treatment plant. That is being done to meet federal mandates. Voters are being asked to approve the use of lower-interest-rate general obligation bonds. This financing method will save $6 million and eliminate another water-rate increase to residents. If the referendum fails, the water treatment plant will still be upgraded, but the cost will be higher.
The projected rate increase to pay for these improvements has been reduced from earlier estimates by continuing to find ways to reduce costs. When the projects are completed, the long history of salty tasting water will finally be put to rest. In additional, future demands are being anticipated now through Chesapeake's one-sixth partnership with Virginia Beach in the Lake Gaston project.
Water presents one of the greatest challenges for Chesapeake. Through a systematic process that was begun years ago, the most cost-effective, final solution is firmly in our grasp. MEMO: Mr. Ward is mayor of Chesapeake.
by CNB