Residents may be paying higher water rates

By Kristin Hoppa

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Water rates may be on the rise for Lawrence residents in 2009. City commissioners did not object to a report by the city manager’s office suggesting a 12 percent water rate increase.

The proposal reported that the average household uses about 8,000 gallons of water per month. Water rates for those households would increase about $3.15 a month, or $37.80 a year.

City Manager David Corliss proposed the rate increase based off of aging water treatment intake equipment reliability from the Kansas River. The 34-year-old intake is the only way the Kaw Water Treatment plant gathers surface water at the Kansas River.

If the plant failed, the only other option for water would be from the Clinton Lake Treatment plant. Staff members said the Clinton Lake facility might not meet all of the city’s water needs.

City Commissioner Mike Amyx said Lawrence would have to strictly ration the city’s water supply if the Kaw Water Treatment plant failed.

After a study session July 14 staff members said they did not think the treatment plant was in danger at this point but other intakes on the Kaw River had only lasted about 30 years.

If the intake failed, it would cost the city more than $6 million to replace.

Kelli Scheuerman, community manager of The Reserve, 2511 W. 31st St., said although the city had proposed a water rate increase, the increase would not affect rental rates for 2009. Water and sewer rates are included in rates for The Reserve residents.

“Before I would let any utility increase rates for our residents, I would look into the energy saving measures that would make up for the increases,” Scheuerman said.

Even with the increase, commissioners said they hoped the increase would not cause serious problems.

According to the report, Lawrence water rates are the second lowest within nine cities around the Kansas City and Topeka area.

— Edited by Mandy Earles

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