Water rates going up by average of $100 in 2017
by Joyanne Pursaga, originally posted on November 28, 2016
Winnipeggers will pay more to turn on the taps and flush the toilet this year, but some of that revenue will again be drained away to fund other projects.
The average home is expected to be charged about $100 more for sewer and water rates in 2017. That will be part of a three-year rate hike that began in 2016, if the preliminary budget passes as is. And it’s set to be followed by another $92 hike in 2018.
The city argues it needs the cash to complete $1.2 billion of wastewater treatment plant upgrades by 2019, as well as spend between $1 billion and $4 billion to reduce combined sewer overflows.
Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who chairs council’s water and waste committee, said securing more provincial and federal funds for the mega projects could help the city reduce future rate hikes.
“As you can see, we’re increasing the water rates to help pay for this program. If we can get some relief, we could reduce the rates,” said Mayes.
Meanwhile, the city’s preliminary budget also includes a transfer that’s expected to drain about $35.6 million from water and waste revenues into general coffers. That’s up from about $32 million in 2016.
Mayes said ending the transfer to boost the city’s portion of the upgrades may sound easy but stressed doing so would leave a gaping hole in the overall budget.
“If we got rid of the dividend, then there’s a 6%, 7% … property tax increase,” he said.
Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox was not available for an interview Monday but in an email her office noted that the province has contributed $62.3 million to the City of Winnipeg’s wastewater treatment upgrades.
“We are continuing to work with other levels of government to contribute to the services Manitobans rely upon,” said a spokesperson from the Manitoba Government in the statement.
The province could also lighten the cost of the overall project if it decides the city must remove only phosphorus from the effluent of its North End sewage treatment plant, instead of an original requirement to also remove nitrogen.
Scientists and governments have hotly debated whether removing both is needed to better protect against algae growth nutrients within Lake Winnipeg.
Mayes said removing only phosphorus could save hundreds of millions of dollars.
Boil Advisory Issued For Providence
originally posted on November 29, 2016
Webster County Emergency Management officials encourage all Providence Water customers to boil and conserve water.
This announcement is coming after a break in the main water supply line.
The boil advisory is in effect until further notice.
Mayfield issues boil-water notice
originally posted on November 28, 2016
MAYFIELD — The Village has issued a boil-water advisory due to a water main break for Mountainview Avenue residents until further notice, according to a press release.
Boil water lifted
originally posted on November 29, 2016
Beckley Water Company has lifted the boil water advisory for North Lilly Drive and North Lester Drive on Maxwell Hill.
UPDATE: Boil water advisory expanded into Alum Creek and Tornado areas
by Kelsey Hoak, originally posted on November 28, 2016
UPDATE 11/28/16 @ 6:17 p.m.
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — West Virginia American Water has expanded a precautionary boil water advisory to include more than a thousand customers.
The original alert came out just after noon on Monday concerning about 500 customers along Corridor G between Parkway Road and Brounland Road.
According to a release from WVAW, the precautionary boil water advisory expanded to 1,100 customers in the Alum Creek and Tornado areas. Emergency repairs to a 16-inch water main are taking longer than anticipated due to the location of the break.
It caused a second water storage tank to drain.
The advisory has now been expanded to include Sand Plant Road, Brounland Road, South Pointe Lane, South Cove Lane, Thornhill Lane, Barker Drive, Rondal Drive, Gardenview Lane, Champion Drive, Childress Road, Greenview Drive, Ballard Road, Hudson Valley Road, Newbridge Road, Smith Creek Road, Rocky Moore Road, Quebec Drive, Ferrell Road, Crawford Lane and Thomas Hollow Road.
It already included: Ruthdale Road from Graceland Memorial Park to Rt. 119, Peyton Way, Yorktown Subdivision, Trace Fork Road, Rabel Mountain Road, Childress Road from Ruth Road to Greenview Drive, Willow Drive, Coventry Road, Eagle Drive, Chestnut Road from Childress Road to Hudson Valley Road, Newcomer Road/Ridge Estates, Crooked Creek Road, The Ridges Subdivision and Midkiff Road.
Estimated service restoration time is 8 p.m.
Once service is restored, affected customers should boil their water before consumption until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms that may be present in the water. Customers are asked to bring water used for drinking, cooking, bathing and brushing teeth to a full boil for a minimum of one minute, then cool before use.
UPDATE 11/28/16 @ 12:40 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — West Virginia American Water has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for up to 500 customers in the Corridor G/Rt. 119 area of South Charleston between Parkway Road and Brounland Road
The advisory comes after a water main break drained an area water storage tank.
According to WVAW, repairs are being made to the tank and service is estimated to be restored by 5 p.m Monday evening.
Once service is restored, affected customers should boil their water before consumption until further notice
The advisory is in effect for any customers in the following areas who experienced low water pressure or an interruption in water service today: Ruthdale Road from Graceland Memorial Park to Rt. 119, Peyton Way, Yorktown Subdivision, Trace Fork Road, Rabel Mountain Road, Childress Road from Ruth Road to Greenview Drive, Willow Drive, Coventry Road, Eagle Drive, Chestnut Road from Childress Road to Hudson Valley Road, Newcomer Road/Ridge Estates, Crooked Creek Road, The Ridges Subdivision and Midkiff Road.
ORIGINAL STORY 11/28/16
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — West Virginia American Water is reporting that there is an outage in the Southridge area.
This is affecting Southridge Plaza and surrounding areas, meaning several stores and restaurants in that area are without water.
Metro 911 Dispatchers say the estimated restoration time in 5 p.m. Monday evening.
WSAZ has a crew headed to the area.
Keep checking WSAZ Mobile and WSAZ.com for updates.
Some Brackenfell residents urged to boil tap water over contamination fears
Water in pipelines in the St Michaels area isn’t safe for drinking as it reportedly contains stagnant water.
by Eduard De Kock, originally posted on November 25, 2016
CAPE TOWN – City of Cape Town health officials are advising a Brackenfell community to boil their tap water, amid concerns it may be contaminated.
Water in pipelines in the St Michaels area isn’t safe for drinking as it reportedly contains stagnant water.
Residents there have been asked to be cautious while water officials address the problem.
Over the past week, three water main pipelines burst in the Brackenfell area.
To prevent further water loss, the City reversed the flow on these pipes before starting repairs.
During this reversal, however, water was drawn from sections of a pipeline that is seldomly used, where the water became stagnant.
Following numerous complaints from residents, the City performed tests and found the system contained pockets of water that do not meet safe drinking water standards.
The contamination is reportedly limited to the St Michaels area.
Residents are being advised to boil their tap water for at least a minute before drinking it, using it for cooking, washing or brushing their teeth.
San Marco businesses, residents cope with boil water order
by Jenese Harris, originally posted on November 28, 2016
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JEA utility crews will continue repairs Tuesday to a water main break in San Marco that was the second in less than a week.
The water main break was reported Sunday evening on Landon Avenue at Arcadia and flooded the immediate area.
Water service was restored to all customers in San Marco and the Southbank early Monday morning. More than 3,000 homes and businesses in the surrounding neighborhoods are under a boil water alert. A JEA spokeswoman said that the first test of the water came back clean, but another test must be done Wednesday. If the second test comes back clear, the boil water advisory will be lifted.
Crews will be replacing the broken pipe on Tuesday and take the next couple of days to continue repairs.
It’s more than an inconvenience to those who run restaurants in San Marco Square and down Hendricks Avenue who must now add a couple steps to their daily routine for the next 48 hours
“Everything is fine. It’s just more of a nuisance … making sure you have bottled and purchase products for people to consume,” said Sam Efron of Taverna.
“Right now we are concentrating on fixing the pipe,” JEA spokeswoman Gerri Boyce said. “Once that is completed, then we will start looking at what caused it and looking at what to do so it doesn’t happen again.”
JEA said that with 3,000 miles of water pipe in its system, sometimes pipes can break despite proactively checking its system throughout the year.
“What we will do now is see how it’s performing overall. If it looks like we need to replace it, it will be in one of our future capital budgets,” Boyce said.
JEA says anyone who lost water pressure is under the boil water advisory. Water should be boiled for a minimum of one minute prior to using for drinking, food preparation, or cooking.
It is recommended that customers flush water lines for three minutes after water returns in order to remove any air and possible sediments from the lines. The boil notice will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and two consecutive days of satisfactory bacteriological results have been obtained.
JEA crews had to work Thanksgiving Day when a water main break flooded roads in the Miramar neighborhood off San Jose, but only about 20 customers were affected by that outage.
Boil water advisory continues for four South Shore municipalities
originally posted on November 28, 2016
Residents of Varennes, Ste-Julie and St-Amable are being ordered to boil their water until further notice after testing revealed the presence of E. coli bacteria.
And residents in Les Cédres have received the same order because of a “deficient” level of chlorine in local tap water.
Residents are instructed to drink bottled water or thoroughly boil tap water for at least one minute before consuming it or using it for any purpose other than bathing, washing dishes or doing laundry.
Boil water advisory issued for portions of Battle Creek
originally posted on November 26, 2016
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Officials in Battle Creek have issued a boil water advisory for some residents in the area.
It’s in the area of 24th Street south, as well as Lindwood, Merrill and Windamere streets.
City officials say the water system has been shutdown due to repairs. They issued this statement as part of a press release Saturday evening:
A portion of the City of Battle Creek water system has been shut down for improvements or repairs. Whenever the pressure of a municipal water system is reduced to allow for work to be done on the water main, the potential for bacteria to enter the system exists. Bacteria are generally not harmful and are common throughout our environment. As a safeguard to your health, The City of Battle Creek is ADVISING you to boil water before using it for consumption.
Boil water advisory for part of Altoona
originally posted on November 25, 2016