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

RE:  Unanswered Questions about City Water Supply

Dear Mayor Burns:

First, we would like to thank you for providing answers to many of our questions about the city's water supply.  However, some of our questions remain unanswered or responses were incomplete, and we are requesting you direct staff to provide a response to those questions which were missed in your original April 2, 2001 memorandum.  Commentary in italics are included to provide clarification about the information being requested.

Unanswered Questions:

A.    Completion date: Summer 2001 rehabilitation of existing wells
Questions 1 through 4 apply only to the Summer 2001 rehabilitation phase.

1.    Are well nos. 1, 2, and 6 expected to produce any water after rehabilitation?  This question was not addressed.

2.    If yes, how much from each well.  Staff's response only provided the "average" production expected for the entire existing well field.  We wish to know what well nos. 1, 2 and 6 are each expected to produce after rehabilitation.

3.    What is total cost, including engineering and professional fees, equipment, materials, staff time, permit fees, annual maintenance for life of well, etc.  This question was not addressed.

4.    What is expected total city mgd net treated water production (not capacity) upon completion of this stage?  The terms "capacity", "production", and "flow" appear to have ambiguous meanings, depending upon the context of the response.  We do not want to know how much raw water the treatment plant may be capable of processing.  We do not want to know how much water the city's reservoirs and pipes may hold at any given time.  We wish to know how much water will be coming out of the treatment plant and available for use by the public in one day.   In other words, if we were talking about a business and the income and expense, we want to know what the "net profit" for the day is.

B.     Completion Date: Summer 2002 develop five new wells
Questions apply only to the Summer 2002 development phase.

5.    What is total cost, including engineering and professional fees, equipment, materials, staff time, permit fees, annual maintenance for life of well, etc.  This question was not addressed in the response.

6.    What is expected total city mgd net treated water production (not capacity) upon completion of this stage?  Same comment as question 4. above.

C.   Completion Date: Summer 2008 develop new well field and water treatment plant
Questions apply only to the Summer 2008 development phase.

7.    How many new wells are planned?  This question was not addressed.

8.    What is expected total city mgd net treated water production (not capacity) upon completion of this stage? Same comment as question 4. above.

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.

9.    What steps is the city taking to reduce the 15.1% loss?  This question was not addressed.  It is apparent that the "ongoing maintenance program" mentioned by staff is not addressing the abnormal 5.1% loss.  Is the city planning on implementing any other measures?

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%.

10.     What will happen to sewer rates and/or sewer related SDCs if the projected income from monthly sewer bills is reduced 10%?  This question was not adequately addressed.

11.    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?  This question was not addressed.

12.    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? This question was not adequately addressed.

Well Life Expectancy

13.    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?  This question was not adequately addressed.  The response that the new wells "should have life expectancies measured in terms of decades" does not adequately respond to the question.  For example, some of the wells that have "been in service for in excess of 20 and 30 years" are currently producing at such low levels that a reasonable person might question their cost effectiveness.

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.

14.    Which statement is accurate, and what are the details of the “arrangement”.  This question was not addressed.

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.

15.    What restrictions will the city be placing on those properties in order to protect the water quality of the city's wellfield? This question was not addressed.

16.    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? This question was not addressed.

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”.

17.     How many employees are paid by funds dedicated to the Water Fund?  This question was not addressed.

18.    How many hours of staff time have been dedicated to preventive maintenance of the wellheads? This question was not addressed.

19.    Why have the wells been “neglected” and why was the maintenance “reduced”?  This question was not addressed.

20.    Has the Public Works Director ever informed the city council of the consequences of this “neglect” and “reduced maintenance”? This question was not addressed.

21.    Has there ever been a regular wellhead maintenance schedule implemented? This question was not addressed.

22.    t one time, the Public Works Department requested the city pay for bottled water for the Public Works employees.  Is this still the case?  This question was not addressed.

23.    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? This question was not addressed.

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”.

24.     Is the city now planning to provide only enough water for residents inside existing city limits?  This question was not addressed.

25.    This question was posed by someone other than CFF:  Was the City Council told of the drop in well production prior to its decision to sever ties with Heceta Water District?  This question was not answered.  In addition, the purported "answer" to this question is inaccurate and misleading.  The City Council voted to end the intergovernmental agreement with Heceta Water District on April  3, 2000.  The Lane County Planning Commission did not even discuss limiting Heceta's water withdrawal from Clear Lake until August 2000.

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