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Water-treatment plant overhaul proposed; staff recommends 15% rate increase for 2026
Summary
Utility staff told council the water-treatment plant needs filter replacements, consolidated chemical systems and improved residuals handling; staff budgeted $15 million in 2026 for long-lead purchases and proposed a 15% water-rate increase in 2026 as part of the financing plan.
Deputy Utilities Director Ryan Labock and colleagues described the water-treatment plant project as driven by aging filters (some more than 40 years old), operator-safety concerns and anticipated state discharge requirements for backwash water. Labock said the project will consolidate chemical dosing and add engineered solids-handling infrastructure to meet stricter regulations.
Labock told the council staff has budgeted $15,000,000 for 2026 to purchase long-lead equipment and to fund early construction-yard setup, trailers and initial site work. On financing, staff said council had directed pursuit of option 2 in which a proposed 15% water-rate increase in 2026 would help fund the project; staff also cautioned that flattening out future rate increases could jeopardize maintaining a 25% fund balance for the utility.
Council members asked about customer impacts and the timing of GMP and bidding; staff said Haskell was selected as the construction manager at risk and that the early procurement of long-lead items is intended to let work start in October while preserving competition for the larger packages.
