The aging McBaine Water Treatment Plant can’t reliably handle the 32 million gallons a day that it’s supposed to, nor can it handle the increased demand that comes with a growing population.
The Columbia City Council is set to consider a $42.8 million bond issue that would fund a rehabilitation of the treatment plant, among other projects. An ordinance to hold a special election on Aug. 7 for the bond issue will be introduced at Monday night’s council meeting. The council will discuss the bond issue at a subsequent meeting.
“This method of funding allows for minimal rate increases and ensures future customers help pay for the system upgrades they benefit from,” reads a council memo.
Total rate increases necessary to service the debt from the bond issue are estimated to be 11 percent, according to the memo. An initial 3 percent rate increase would be needed if the bond issue is passed. The remaining rate increases are proposed as:
- A 3 percent increase for fiscal year 2020.
- A 3 percent increase for fiscal year 2021.
- A 2 percent increase for fiscal year 2022.
A large portion of money raised from the bond issue, $23 million, would be used to begin upgrading the McBaine Water Treatment Plant. An upgrade to the West Ash pumping station would cost $3 million and the replacement of eight well platforms would cost $1 million.
Another $6.2 million would fund system reliability projects, such as the installation of elevated storage and a new pump station in the Phillips Lake Area. The bond would also provide $1.5 million for water main relocation for roadwork and $3.75 million for water main replacement.
The last water bond issue was passed in 2008 for $39 million.
Columbia Water and Light has a list of almost 250 water main projects, with the top 50 projects costing an estimated $6 million. Most of these projects will not be funded by the bond because the city is focusing on a more urgent need: upgrading the McBaine Water Treatment Plant.
The first phase of upgrades will focus on restoring the plant’s capacity to 32 million gallons of water per day. In 2016, an assessment of the plant found that its capacity had fallen to 24 million gallons per day. The drop was attributed to aging infrastructure, as much of the plant’s machinery dates back to the 1970s. Currently, 43 percent of plant assets have exceeded their life expectancy. Another 30 percent will exceed their life expectancy in the next 10 years.
Additionally, it was predicted that by 2040 water demand on peak days will reach 48 million gallons per day, though average demand is expected to be closer to 28 million gallons per day.
The second phase of upgrades will focus on expanding capacity to 48 million gallons per day. It would have to be funded by another bond issue.
Consulting firm Carollo Engineers worked with the Drinking Water Planning Work Group to determine what treatment processes and methods should be included in the plant expansion. The work group recommended three options that would restore plant capacity and meet current regulatory standards while also allowing for the implementation of processes that meet higher regulatory standards in the future.
Many work group members favored an approach that would meet the higher regulatory standards of groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, although Columbia water is currently classified as groundwater. Group members also had concerns about chloramines, which the plant currently uses to treat water.