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Board discusses potential bulk-water interconnect with Iowa American Water; no formal action taken
Summary
Staff said Iowa American Water reached out about next steps on a possible interconnect or bulk-water purchase; board members asked about tie-in locations, who would pay for pipe crossing, a quoted per-foot cost, and agreed to collect questions and consider a future agenda item or joint council meeting.
During the meeting, staff told the board that Iowa American Water had contacted the utility offering follow-up on possible partnership or bulk-water arrangements. Staff (speaker 5) said, “They reached out to see if there's any follow-up in the utility board or any further discussion that you wanna have.”
Board members asked technical and financial questions about where a bulk interconnect could be made and who would be responsible for extending pipe to the city limits. One board member asked for clarification on construction costs, noting, “I thought at one point, he said it was $510 a foot,” and pressed whether that figure referred to work done to meet the city’s needs rather than the supplier’s system.
Staff and board members discussed options including phased, targeted connections to serve an industrial area rather than building full infrastructure across the entire corridor, and noted that sewer planning would need to coincide with any water buildout. Staff suggested collecting specific questions for Iowa American Water and bringing answers back to the utility board; the Chair said the infrastructure conversation might be premature until the city council’s position is clearer but did not rule out inviting Iowa American Water to a future meeting.
No motion or vote was taken on the matter; board members asked staff to compile technical and cost questions for Iowa American Water and to consider whether a joint meeting with the city council would be appropriate.
The discussion highlighted questions about responsibility for crossing costs, joint-cost arrangements for interconnect infrastructure, and whether a bulk-purchase tariff would affect local retail rates. The board asked staff to request written clarification on cost responsibilities and to place the item on a future agenda if clarifying information becomes available.
