Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water And Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oak Ridge prepares for new water treatment plant operation and gradual rate increases; wastewater upgrades planned
Summary
Staff said the new water treatment plant is expected to begin operating in spring and will require time to determine operating costs; a prior 8.4% increase remains in effect and staff said modest annual increases may be needed going forward. Several wastewater capital upgrades were also described.
City staff told council the new water treatment plant is planned to be operable in spring and that it will take time to determine the plant’s operating costs once it comes on line.
Randy said the city and consultants expect modest, recurring rate increases to maintain and operate the new system. He referenced a prior 8.4% rate increase implemented in the fall and told council the rate consultant had suggested "about 1% increases just about every year to keep up" as a planning baseline. Staff said that final rate recommendations will follow a water and wastewater master plan to be completed in fiscal 2026.
Staff also noted several wastewater capital projects already underway, including a biological-process upgrade at Turtle Park and a chemical flocculator upgrade. The administration said it will work with suppliers and operators of similar plants to develop operator training regimens and may use visits to comparable facilities to prepare staff for the new treatment process.
Randy said he did not include an additional $700,000 school maintenance request from the school system in the city budget draft because doing so now would reduce the city’s near-term capacity to finance other capital projects without a significant tax increase or utility-rate impact.
