Public Works: Water
The Water Division’s primary mission is to provide high quality water for domestic, commercial, industrial, and recreational use.
The Division is responsible for the maintenance and repair of approximately 72 miles of water main serving 4,500 customers. These activities include service installation and repair, main line installation and repair, meter repairs, backflow prevention, fire hydrant repair and maintenance, and emergency response.
PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASE
The City Council will consider a water rate increase for residential and commercial customers at their June 27, 2011 meeting. The water rates for multifamily and industrial customers will stay the same. However, some larger customers have an additional meter referred to as a compound meter, that can be used for peak water usage and for fire service, for which currently there are no charges. The Council will consider adding a meter charge for these meters.
The City engaged a consultant to analyze the water utility revenues and expenses. The revenue to the water utility has been declining, due to the economic downturn and to the end of leasing excess water to Tualatin Valley Water District, leading to the need to increase rates to maintain water operations and infrastructure improvements. The consultant also reviewed the cost of providing water to the various categories of water customers – residential, commercial, multifamily, and industrial. This consultant found that the residential and commercial customers need to pay slightly more to cover the costs of supplying water, but that multifamily and industrial customers were covering their costs, with the exception of those that have compound meters.
For the average residential user, the proposed changes mean that their water bill will increase by about $2.00 per month. For the average sized commercial customer, water bills will increase anywhere from $2.00 per month to $5.00 per month, depending upon usage.
The City’s water bill displays only one line for water charges, but it is actually made up of two parts: a fixed charge and a usage charge. For residential customers, the usage charge is divided into blocks, so that the more water that is used, the higher the price is for the highest block of water. Residential water is priced this way because water usage tends to spike up in the summer, imposing additional costs on the water utility. By charging a higher rate for higher usage, the City accomplishes two things: it sends a price signal to conserve water in the peak summer season, and recovers the additional cost of supplying water during the summer peak season. By contrast, the other customer classes of commercial, multifamily and industrial tend to use approximately the same amount of water all year long, and so these classes of customers do not have their water usage divided into blocks, but pay a flat usage rate per 1,000 gallons of water used.
These new water rates are proposed to go into effect on July 1, 2011. However, due to the billing and usage cycles, customers will not see the proposed changes reflected in their bills until mid-August.
Water Treatment Plant
The Water Treatment Plant’s primary mission is to provide high quality and adequate water supply to meet the present and future water needs of the community.
Water Shut-Off
Occasionally homeowners will find they need to have their water shut off at the meter. This may be for home repairs or plumbing changes. The City policy is that customers or their contractors never turn off the water at the water meter themselves. If you find you need to have the water shut off at the meter call 503.992.3258 and a City representative will come out and turn your water off for you. There is a fee of $21.50 during business hours and $43.00 after business hours for this service. This fee includes both the shut off and the turn back on service. This small fee can save homeowners money and embarrassment in the long run -- if the meter breaks while the City representative is turning the meter off, the City will make all repairs at the City’s expense. If a homeowner or contractor attempts to shut off the water at the meter without calling the City and the meter or the water line breaks, all repair expenses will be made at the homeowner’s expense. In addition to the expense, it is possible that the entire neighborhood may have their water service interrupted while the water line is repaired. It would be a humiliating experience to tell neighbors their water is shut off because you broke your water meter and the City is making repairs!
Water Conservation Tips
Backflow Testing Instructions
Hydrant Flushing