Mayor Alan Burns
Florence City Hall
250 Hwy 101
Florence, Oregon 97439

RE:  City Water Supply

Dear Mayor Burns:

During the work session Monday night you graciously offered to have the city’s engineers respond to those in the audience who had questions.  The presentation by the city’s engineers was most informative, and we appreciate the city providing us the opportunity to learn more about our water supply.

Many residents, taxpayers and water users in Florence are either unable or unwilling to pour over stacks of technical data, as the City Council has, to find out the answers to what they perceive as very simple questions.  While you and I both are aware that the answers to those questions are often very complex, I think it most helpful if we make every effort to boil down all the information into something easily understandable by the average lay person.

Toward that goal, I have broken down the proposed water supply plan into what I saw during the presentation as three basic stages, (1) Completion date Summer 2001 - rehabilitation of existing wells; (2) Completion date - Summer 2002 develop five new wells; (3) Completion date  Summer 2008 - develop new well field and water treatment plant.

Questions:

1.   Completion date: Summer 2001 rehabilitation of existing wells
 

• Are well nos. 1, 2, and 6 producing any water now?
• Are well nos. 1, 2, and 6 expected to produce any water after rehabilitation?  If yes, how much from each well.
• What is total cost, including engineering and professional fees, equipment, materials, staff time, permit fees, annual maintenance for life of well, etc.
• How much of this total cost is attributable to providing water supply for future residents (growth)?
• How will this be paid for?
• How much will this cost the average homeowner/rate payer per month on their water bill?
• How much will this cost the average homeowner on their property taxes?
• What is expected total city mgd net treated water production (not capacity) upon completion of this stage?

2. Completion Date: Summer 2002 develop five new wells
 

• What is total cost, including engineering and professional fees, equipment, materials, staff time, permit fees, annual maintenance for life of well, etc.
• How much of this total cost is attributable to providing water supply for future residents (growth)?
• How will this be paid for?
• How much will this cost the average homeowner/rate payer per month on their water bill?
• What is expected total city mgd net treated water production (not capacity) upon completion of this stage?

3.   Completion Date: Summer 2008 develop new well field and water treatment plant
 

• How many new wells are planned?
• How much land will be required?
• What is total cost, including engineering and professional fees, equipment, materials, staff time, permit fees, annual maintenance for life of well, property acquisition, etc.
• How much of this total cost is attributable to providing water supply for future residents (growth)?
• How will this be paid for?
• How much will this cost the average homeowner/rate payer per month on their water bill?
• What is expected total city mgd net treated water production (not capacity) upon completion of this stage?

Other Issues

Unmetered Water Use
The 1998 Water Facilities Report indicates that repairs of leaks might “slightly” reduce the current 15.1% “unmetered” water losses.  The report indicates (through their assumptions) that 10% is a more normal rate of loss for water systems. What steps is the city taking to reduce the 15.1% loss?

Surface Water Rights
Will the city be using any of their surface water permit for .8 cfs issued by Water Resources
Department in 1948?  If not, why?

Effect on Sewer Rates
The City’s application for water rights to Water Resources Department states that the city is
expecting to reduce water consumption by 10%.  If the city accomplishes this worthy goal, what will be the impact on sewer rate fees, which are calculated on water consumption.  In other words, what will happen to sewer rates and/or sewer related SDCs if the projected income from monthly sewer bills is reduced 10%?

The city finance director reported to the council that there was a certain percentage “surcharge”(over and above the cost of the service) in sewer rates which was required by the lender - what was that percentage?  If sewer revenues are lowered because of lower water usage, will user rates have to be increased in order to produce enough revenue to repay the loan?

Well Life Expectancy
Given the gradual buildup of organic matter around the outside of the well, what is the average life expectancy of each new well, assuming adequate annual maintenance and repair?

Biocide
What is the “biocide” which must be applied once per month, per well?

Property Acquisition/Use
During the work session of February 26, Mr. Lanfear stated that the city had “not started negotiations with the property owner”.  In an earlier city council (or perhaps planning commission) meeting, Mr. Lanfear mentioned a “quid pro quo” arrangement with Mr. Keubler who is currently requesting his 80-acre property be annexed.  Which statement is accurate, and what are the details of the “arrangement”.

Future Well Field
Apparently, the land directly west (and “downstream”) of the proposed “limited
industrial/commercial” on Hwy. 101 north of Munsel Creek Road is being proposed as a potential wellfield.

What restrictions will the city be placing on those properties in order to protect the water quality of the city’s wellfield?

State regulations only require that things such as buried fuel tanks, pressure sewer lines, etc. must be 100 feet away from a well.  Is the city going to require any additional protection to the city’s water supply, over and above that required by state law?

Neglect of Existing Wellfield
The city’s engineers pretty plainly indicated that the reason the city is facing a water supply problem is due, in very large part, to “neglect” and “reduced maintenance”.  My questions:

How many employees are paid by funds dedicated to the Water Fund?  How many hours of staff time have been dedicated to preventive maintenance of the wellheads?

Why have the wells been “neglected” and why was the maintenance “reduced”?  Has the Public Works Director ever informed the city council of the consequences of this “neglect” and “reduced maintenance”?

Has there ever been a regular wellhead maintenance schedule implemented?

At one time, the Public Works Department requested the city pay for bottled water for the Public Works employees.  Is this still the case? If so, how much does this cost the city and why are the people who are responsible for producing our drinking water using bottled water?

Changes in 1998 Water Facility Plan
The report recently distributed by the city’s engineers indicate that the 1998 Water Facility Plan has been changed, in part, because “1998 Facility Plan assumed service to full urban growth boundary”.  What does this mean?  Is the city now planning to provide only enough water for residents inside existing city limits?

Zane Ziemer, President

• City's Second Response to CFF Questions
• CFF's Second Submission of Questions
• City's First Response to CFF Questions
• CFF Questions About City's Water Supply Plan
• North Florence Dunal Aquifer Groundwater Flow Map
• Coming Soon - City's $12 Million Well Development Plan