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With sewage flow declining, sewer rates could rise
(by Sue Reid - August 11, 2010)
With sewage flow declining, sewer rates could rise
By SUE REID
There has been a decrease in flow to Solon's sewage-treatment plant over the past few years, Director Paul Solanics told City Council's public works committee last week. At the same time, costs to run the facility on Cochran Road have increased, he said.
Mr. Solanics' comments were part of a discussion among committee members over the past couple of months on the possibility of increasing sewer rates for residential, commercial and industrial users.
Mr. Solanics gave the committee best estimates in terms of historic flow data, which showed roughly a 17 percent decrease over the past five years. That is taken solely from industrial users, he said, as there are not flow meters to track residential use.
In speaking to big industrial users in the city, Mr. Solanics said, they have predicted a 4 percent decrease per year in flow by 2015. That is because everyone is trying to cut back on utility costs, he said.
"It's not about reduction in demand," Mr. Solanics said, "but they are looking at ways to cut back."
The possibility of rate increases is being looked at to offset that, he said. "We will have to do something."
Councilman Robert N. Pelunis asked if there is anything that can be done at the treatment plant to make up for the reduced flow.
Mr. Solanics said the plant has been implementing cuts in a variety of areas, including staff. Through attrition over the last decade, staff has been reduced, he said. He told the committee that projects such as the digester project will afford the plant the opportunity to offset its natural gas costs by utilizing bio-gas that the digesters produce. The plant also is trying to reduce its utility costs as well as investigate the possibility of bringing in flow from other areas, he said.
In addition, Mr. Solanics said the city has not been paying for sludge disposal over at least the last 10 years. The city negotiated free sludge disposal in exchange for treatment of leachate from the waste-management landfill. "That's huge. That results in a savings of $300,000 annually," he said. "Besides that, there's not a lot we can do."
Public Works Director James S. Stanek said that he and Mr. Solanics will bring back to the committee next month figures relating to what the plant expects to bring in in revenues, what its expenditures are as well as capital-improvement needs. It costs about $6 million annually to run the plant.
"These are the nuts and bolts of the rate increase discussions," Mr. Stanek said.
Mr. Pelunis asked for as much information as possible to provide to the committee in order to make an informed decision. That is especially pertinent in light of today's economy and the fact the city is looking at sewer rate increases, Mr. Pelunis said.
He also asked Mr. Solanics how other communities which have treatment plants, like Solon, are doing.
Mr. Solanics provided the committee a chart of historical flow data.
Councilman William D. Mooney said it was very helpful in highlighting what is a "critical issue" facing the city's plant in coming years.
"You have to run the plan whether you have high flow, medium flow or low flow," Mr. Pelunis said. "This plant is the biggest investment the city has."
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