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City Council Water & Sewer Subcommittee <br />January 21, 2003 <br />Page 6 <br />Campbell said the way to get the turbidity down is by using filters. He advised <br />that there have been four filters added since he has been with the city making a <br />total of 10 filters. <br />Mr. Campbell stated that, in order to properly inform the citizens as to the need <br />for increased rates, it would need to be explained that the cost of water <br />production is not that much, but that the increased rates are due to the cost of a <br />new water tower, new water plant, new water and sewer lines, and additional <br />ground storage. He also mentioned the additional cost of additional pumps and <br />new lift stations and all of the sewer repair work. He stated that the increased <br />cost is not more people and it is not in the production cost. It is in the debt <br />service. Mr. Campbell said when the water rate study is received, he felt that is <br />what will be cited, and that is what the City Council will have to explain to the <br />citizens. <br />Chairman Plata said a while back when there was talk of a deficit he had not <br />heard anything about the deficit being caused by the bond issue, but lately it is <br />the cause of it. <br />Mr. Campbell stated that over the last 15 years the cost of a thousand gallons <br />of water has gone up $0.15 and that was driven by mandates. It is not because <br />the city is producing a lot more water and it is not because we are selling more <br />water. It is because the city has to meet all of these new requirements. <br />City Manager Malone said every time the city has been faced with a mandate, <br />staff has complained loudly and bitterly, talked to the City Council, and went to <br />the EPA regarding this. He said they have talked about the millions of dollars <br />that the city is spending to correct the system. City Manager Malone said they <br />have also identified the fact that Campbell Soup has reduced their consumption. <br />Mr. Campbell pointed out that that water usage has been picked up by someone <br />else because the average is pretty flat. City Manager Malone said there has <br />been variations in water usage and there are problems in revenues, which has <br />been identified from people not watering in the summer because of the mild <br />weather. Mr. Anderson said the residential consumption has been down for the <br />