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Cadiz water project to raise residents’ water bills

CADIZ — The village of Cadiz has secured the resources and partial funding needed to upgrade its water treatment facility, and a rate hike for residents will provide the remaining funding for the project.

Village Administrator Ted Andrzejewski said the news that the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency approved the plan in December was announced at the village’s last council meeting. Following the positive news from the EPA, the village can now move forward with plans to upgrade and rehabilitate its water plant.

“It’s a huge step and now we can proceed,” Andrzejewski said.

The OEPA approved the village’s plans for water plant expansion. It was important to have the approval by Dec. 31, he said, because of funding opportunities. Due to the deadline being successfully met, the project qualifies for principal forgiveness of an OEPA loan of up to $1 million, he added.

“It’s like a grant,” he said. “It will help keep the rates down.”

The project is expected to cost approximately $1.5 million. The remaining funding, $500,000, will come from an increase in water rates. Beginning in February, customers’ rates are expected to increase by around 10 percent to 12 percent on an average bill, Andrzejewski said.

According to the village’s latest water and sewer rates that became effective in February, the average monthly bill amounts are as follows:

– 748 gallons = $64.75

– 1,496 gallons = $72.31

– 2,244 gallons = $85.37

– 2,992 gallons = $101.83

– 3, 740 gallons = $118.29

– 4,488 gallons = $134.73

– 5,236 gallons = $151.19

– 5,984 gallons = $167.65

– 6,732 gallons = $184.11

– 7,480 gallons = $200.56

– 8,228 gallons = $217.01

– 8,976 gallons = $233.47

– 9,724 gallons = $249.93

– 10,472 gallons = $266.39

– 11,220 gallons = $282.85

The bills list six charges including water operating, sewer operating, water debt, sewer debt, water fixed asset replacement and sewer fixed asset replacement. The minimum monthly bill is for 100 cubic feet, or 748 gallons, of water at $64.75 per month, and the maximum listed is for 1,600 cubic feet, or 11,969 gallons, at $299.29 per month.

With the planned rate increase, a customer with minimum usage would pay an additional $6.48-$7.77 per month of a total bill of $71.23-$72.52, depending on whether the hike adds 10 percent or 12 percent to the current bill amount. A customer using the maximum amount would see a monthly increase of $29.93-$35.91 per month for a total bill of $329.22-$335.20.

Andrzejewski said the project is necessary because of two major reasons: First, it is needed to increase water production capacity to supply a new power plant that will be constructed; production capacity will reach 1 million gallons per day once the upgrades are complete. Second, the village must meet OEPA requirements.

The Cadiz power plant project has been in the works since 2016. It was announced last week that the Harrison Energy Center is set to be constructed sometime this year on Industrial Park Road. The new 1,085-megawatt plant is expected to become a long-term employer and energy producer for the area.

Andrzejewski said in addition to the need to increase water supply for the plant, the current water treatment facility is lacking and was in need of OEPA-mandated upgrades.

“We were forced to make the changes to comply with the EPA … ,” Andrzejewski said. “A small village just can’t afford the upgrades and replacements needed.”

The water project will next go out for bid. The project is expected to get underway in late spring or early summer, he said.

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