Friday, March 29, 2024

Chelan City water supply upgrades

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On April 18 I attended a meeting at the Chelan City Council Room to listen to the city staff's proposal to upgrade the city water system at a projected cost of $9,000,000 dollars. The staff is proposing that a new taxing system be used to collect the funds required to put in the necessary pumping equipment and new water tank at a higher elevation. This new tank and system improvement will facilitate additional affordable housing in Chelan and the Airport water line.
What concerned me was the pushback by the Fire Department District and Hospital District based on the fear that this might impact their ability to get their fair share of the collected property tax. Neither district provided any answers on just how much the impact would be to each district. As I understand it, the proposed new taxing area would only encompass a small portion of the City of Chelan on the East end that includes the undeveloped Apple Acres property, Chelan School District property where a new High School may be constructed in the future, and existing subdivisions that suffer low water pressure on the east end of Chelan.
 Chelan needs more affordable housing for our citizens. Water lines and tanks are needed to facilitate this goal.
Listed below is an article concerning Lake Havasu, Arizona's problems as a result of delays and demands by property developers to be allowed to put in cheap sewer systems. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, (ADEQ) threatened to place a moratorium on all new construction until the sewer problem was fixed.
 Washington has similar requirements concerning drinking water quality and the required water pressure at the place of business or an individual’s home. We do not need the State of Washington getting involved when the problem can be addressed locally.
 Long a Septic Tank City, Lake Havasu to Get Sewer System
By Walter Berry December 30, 2001  Washington Post
Lake Havasu City prides itself on postcard-perfect weather nearly year-round, conditions that make it a growing retirement center and a prime vacation stop for winter and spring visitors.
But the thriving Colorado River community, which also boasts a transplanted London Bridge spanning a man-made river channel, is ready to shed one of its other distinctions -- that of being one of the largest U.S. cities without a sewer system.
Only 5 percent of the city, mostly commercial development, has sewage disposal.
"Our population is 45,000, and we have about 25,000 septic tanks. It's the highest density in the country," said John Gall, chairman of Citizens for Clean Water.
Last month, voters overwhelmingly approved a $463 million bond issue to build a citywide sewer system. Gall's group spent about $40,000 in support of the measure.
City Manager Bruce Williams said the vote was crucial to the future of Lake Havasu, which averages 100 new homes per month and also is a top spring break destination for college students.
Because of the potential for groundwater contamination, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) had threatened to place a moratorium on new septic systems and to require that homeowners buy expensive systems to remove nitrates from their waste.
Tests by the department have found high nitrate levels in Lake Havasu's groundwater, although city officials say none of the 14 drinking water wells have levels that violate federal safety standards. Health experts say excessive levels of nitrates in drinking water can cause serious illness and sometimes death.
In addition to nitrate concerns, outbreaks of fecal coliform bacteria closed several beaches and coves along the Lake Havasu section of the Colorado River to swimmers from 1994 to 1996.
Some feared Lake Havasu could become a ghost town if the sewer issue had been voted down.
"It would have depreciated home values," said Gall. "Existing septic tanks would be forced to be retrofitted. It would have cost $20,000 per home."
Now, it will cost homeowners $2,000 to hook up to the sewer system, which could be financed over 10 years at 4 percent interest. The system could take at least 15 years to build.
City officials estimate the average monthly sewer bill for a single-family home will be about $40 a month for the first five years. Lake Havasu City officials said construction of the first phase of their sewer system could begin by next fall. The project will require 800 miles of sewer pipe, 75 pump stations, new regional treatment facilities with upgrades to two existing plants, and 9,700 manholes.
 
- Craig Eggerman
Chelan

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