Lorain City Council to consider sewer, water recommendations
10 January, 2022
Lorain City Council will consider recommendations from the Sewer and Water Advisory Board for 2022 planning for utilities work.
The Streets and Utilities Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the first-floor chambers at Lorain City Hall, 200 W. Erie Ave.
The purpose is to review the board’s 2021 work and suggestions for upgrading the water and sewage treatment plants, along with rates customers pay for those services.
The Sewer and Water Advisory Board met several times in 2021 and “spent much of the year learning and reviewing information concerning the Utilities Department,” said the year-end report from board Chairman Patrick A. McGannon.
Major accomplishments included review of the Ohio State Auditor’s Office performance report about the Utilities Department. The Sewer and Water Advisory Board met twice for tours of the Water Purification Plant, 1106 First St., and the Black River Wastewater Treatment Plant, 100 Alabama Ave.
Board members also heard a presentation about a regional sewer treatment group.
Rates
The Sewer and Water Advisory Board was empaneled as a response to debate in recent years about Lorain’s water and sewer rates.
The board members stated: “Existing rates do reflect existing operating costs and existing long term debt.”
But, the report indicated the rates do “pose a higher than optimal ratio when compared to customer income levels as compared to peer cities in the performance audit.”
“Reducing rates and/or at a minimum stabilizing rates should be a goal and be accomplished by reducing future long term debt and efficiencies, seeking grant funding and continue to create efficiencies within the department,” the report said.
The Sewer and Water Advisory Board did not recommend any staff reductions, due to the current conditions of the Utilities Department treatment plants.
Water plant
City officials and staff should continue efforts to construct a new water treatment plant because the cost of repairs and upgrades to the current facility rival the cost of a new plant.
They also should consider paying for a new plant with grant funding and federal relief money coming to Lorain due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Water Purification Plant has capacity to treat up to 16 million gallons a day.
In the summer, demand averages about 8 million to 8.5 million gallons a day.
Sewer treatment plants
City leaders should revisit the previous study regarding moving the plant or joining a regional sewer district.
Any potential plans to move Lorain’s main sewer plant, or send waste water to another community for treatment, are seven to 10 years away.
That means needed repairs must be done to the current plant, McGannon said.
Lorain utilities staff should continue efforts to reduce storm water entering the sanitary sewer system, which overburdens the waste water treatment plants.
That includes lining sanitary sewers and using rain guards on manholes to seal the pipes and access points.
The Black River Waste Water Treatment Plant was built to handle up to 15 million gallons per day.
It serves about 75 percent of the city of Lorain, along with sewage from Sheffield Lake, Sheffield Township and Elyria Township.
The city of Lorain also has the Philip Q. Maiorana Wastewater Treatment Plant, 6301 W Erie Ave.
That facility has capacity to treat 5.4 million gallons a day.
The Sewer and Water Advisory Board has not yet toured that facility.
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Source: www.morningjournal.com
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