Water rate savings trump increase

In lieu of Bloomington's proposed 11 percent water rate increase, students and residents can take a hands-on approach to water usage, savings and payment.\nThe Common Council is considering the rate increase as a means to fund a $2.45 million shortfall for much-needed and overdue improvements at the Monroe Water Treatment Plant. Bloomington's water supply is currently undergoing a $14.5 improvement project, which began in 2003.\nPatrick Murphy, Bloomington director of utilities, said the water rate increase, labeled as Ordinance 05-11 and not to exceed 11 percent, would have an estimated impact of $1.66 per month for a typical residential monthly water bill.\n"The Utilities Department's rate adjustment, if approved by the City Council and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, will be a permanent adjustment," he said. "This rate adjustment is necessary in order to accommodate funding for three capital improvement projects and also to cover the increase in operational costs."\nThe utility commission would prohibit another city water rate increase from taking effect for two years after Common Council approval if Ordinance 05-11 is approved, according to the utilities department. The last Bloomington water rate adjustment was passed in 2002.\nMurphy said the City of Bloomington Utilities Department is funded by ratepayers -- water customers. He said the utility department does not receive any tax dollars from city coffers to operate and maintain water utilities: pumping, piping, treatment and labor.\n"The shortfall came about due to revised engineering design and expansion of the scope of the project," he said.\nAccording to the utility department, the increased water rate adjustment is comprised of four parts: $288,000 in annual funding to pay off the $2.45 million shortfall; $140,000 in annual funding to repair, renovate and possibly relocate the Bloomington utility headquarters damaged from a November 2003 fire; $137,000 in annual funding to relocate a water main near the expansion of the State Road 45/46 Bypass; and $412,000 in additional funding for operations and maintenance.\nThe first three capital projects are included in a $5 million bond authorization, which is part of the rate request, according to the utility department.\nFortunately, Bloomington residents, students and guests can modify their home water usage routines to save themselves tens of hundreds of dollars a year from washing down their drains. In some cases, cutting back on individual water use might negate the city's proposed 11 percent water rate increase -- putting the proposed $1.66 increase back into residents' pocketbooks. \n"A dripping facet, a toilet not sealing, usually causes more usage then people are aware of," said a Bloomington Utility customer service representative. "We have a service we offer people -- we can send someone out to their apartment or house to do a one-time inspection a year. We will meet the customer, go in and check out the problem."\nGraduate student Ed Schenk, who resides off-campus with three roommates, said he doesn't concern himself with water rates because his gas heating bill seemed outrageous throughout the winter. He said his main water troubles have involved leaking kitchen sinks and running toilet water.\n"I like to take showers. It's nice to be clean," he said. "(The water bill) is not great. It's not terrible. It's kind of just there. If something breaks, we fix it ourselves or we call maintenance."\nThe utility department, 501 N. Morton St., recommends residents and students contact the customer service center at 349-3930 with questions or comments about water bills. The average Bloomington resident uses about 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of water a month, depending on the location and season, according to the utility department. The current rate for one unit of water -- 1,000 gallons -- is $1.91 for residential use. \nGraduate student Ryan Padgett, who lives off-campus by himself, said he has two individual water bills to worry about. His first bill is for the use and refill of a Crystal Pure water tower, and the second water bill includes everything else water related -- the dishwasher, the laundry, the bathroom and the kitchen.\nPadgett said he has never had a dispute with his landlord about water because he is "very conscious" of maintaining a low water bill.\n"I like brushing my teeth and taking a shower. I love a clean mouth and I love being clean," he said. "I don't leave stuff running. I do dishes when the dishwasher is full. I don't do laundry with only one shirt in the washing machine. I don't want a high water bill."\nA Bloomington utility representative said tenant-landlord disputes concerning significant water bills must be dealt with by the parties involved. Some landlords might reimburse a portion of the bill, while other landlords might refuse to make any payment if a request was not made to fix the problem before the bill arrives. \nBloomington residents, students and guests must fill out a disconnection form to have their water turned off if and when they move from one location to another or they move out of town. The utility department offers in-person and online downloadable disconnect forms, which can be mailed, faxed or handed to customer service representatives in the utility office.\n"I think for the most part, people know we can only do so much about high water bills. From that point, we will work people as much as possible to figure out ways to get the water bill paid," a utility customer service representative said. "Other than that, we can always suggest: 'Try to cut back on your water usage.' A lot of that is commonsense." \n-- Contact City & State Editor \nDavid A. Nosko at dnosko@indiana.edu.