Proposition 1 could help Columbia water
Proposition 1 would allocate money for improvements to Columbia's water system.
Published Oct. 30, 2008
Tuesday's election will bring another decision that hits close to home - the vote on Proposition 1, which would issue $38.9 million in bonds to repairing Columbia's water systems.
The Yes for City Water Committee, which is advocating the measure, said passage of the initiative would allow for technical improvements and safety reinforcements. It would also allow for treatment of water affected by hazardous chemicals, all while keeping the costs within rates as opposed to increasing taxes.
Several of the targeted projects are in East Campus and on the north and west sides of campus.
Connie Kacprowicz, spokeswoman for the Columbia Water and Light Department, said for every 1 percent increase in costs, customers will have a $0.23 increase in their rates, which equates to a $6.14 increase per month until 2014.
Jim Windsor, manager of rates and fiscal planning for Columbia Water and Light, said the department tests the city's fire hydrants at least every two years to check the water flows.
"There are some areas in East Campus where the fire flows need to be improved by putting in larger water mains," Windsor said. "We need to make sure we can provide a significant amount of water in the event of a fire in that area."
The committee said the improvements of the water system would increase reliability of the entire system, as well as increase the volume of water available for fire fighting.
Furthermore, the measure will attempt to cut back on the level of trihalomethanes, dangerous chemicals resulting from the reaction of chlorine with organic material in the water system. The chemicals pose health risks over extended periods of time.
The restoration of the system will allow more water to enter the ducts, and officials are considering the use of ammonia to prevent the reaction that causes the formation of trihalomethanes.
"The impact of the improvements is far reaching because the water distribution system is interconnected, and these water distribution projects increase the reliability of the system," Kacprowicz said.
The repairs would involve replacing existing water mains, such as those in local schools that were originally built to residential standards and need to be upgraded to commercial criteria, and connecting different water mains that serve isolated areas of the community.
Three new wells would also be drilled, along with an inspection of water quality considerations.
Because most of the construction is scheduled to begin in 2009 and 2010, the capital project involves a 5-year bond program.
"It's like a house that costs $150,000," Kacprowicz said. "You would borrow the money and have the benefit of living in the house. We're spreading the cost of improvement over time instead of raising consumer rates by up to 70 percent."
If the initiative were to fail, the department would either have to cut the list of projects or customers will experience this increase in rates over the coming years.
Kacprowicz said the measure is the least expensive way of financing such a widespread development because of comparatively higher costs associated with an immediate request for funding.
Bonnie Bourne of the East Campus Neighborhood Association said the costs brought by the passage of the measure wouldn't "be as significant as the gains will be."
"We have an older neighborhood and an aging infrastructure," she said. "The ability of the city to work on the water main will affect us positively."
Bourne said the measure has a "good shot" at passing at the polls.
"Columbians are really good at doing that when there is a public need for repairs or infrastructure projects," Bourne said.
