Published: January 02, 2008 08:29 am            

Grateful for conservation

Richmond utilities expanding infrastructure

(Editor’s note: This is the first of a three-part series about utility districts in Madison County. This story, about Richmond Utilities, will be followed by story about the Berea and Madison County utility districts.)



Commercial and residential growth, coupled with one of the worst droughts in more than 100 years, put a strain on utility districts in Madison County during 2007.

However, cooperation from customers who reduced water usage helped Richmond, Berea and Madison County utilities avoid a crisis.

As the drought that began in May persisted into August, Richmond was pumping water at near capacity, said Richmond Utilities Supt. Scott Althauser. After the city called for voluntary reductions in consumption on Sept. 5, demand dropped enough for the city to forego mandatory restrictions. The call for conservation was ended as autumn rains brought relief to the area.

New facilities completed this past year, set for completion in 2008, or in the planning stage, should accommodate demand in the Richmond area for the foreseeable future.

With completion of a $6 million water purificationplant in August, and the completion of a $6 million water in-take plant this spring, Richmond will have increased its water capacity by a third, from 9 to 12 million gallons a day. Design of the new plants will allow them to be upgraded in two, six-million-gallon increments, enabling the city to double water production capacity in coming years. Althauser said he anticipates annual growth in demand of three to five percent.

“Thanks to our customers’ voluntary conservation this past year, we did not have to enforce mandatory reductions in water use,” said Althauser, who in March became head of the municipal utility that provides water, natural gas and sewer service to most of Richmond and supplies water to the Madison County and Kirksville utility districts.

Richmond Utilities draws water from the Kentucky River pool between the dams near College Hill and Irvine.

While it dipped below normal levels this past summer, there was never any question of adequate supply from the river, Althauser said.

The cost of water treatment chemicals has been increasing by 6.5 to 7.5 percent. The utility’s governing board and the Richmond City Commission may have to consider a water rate increases in the coming year, he said. In 2008, the utility will be installing new water mains along the Robert R. Martin Bypass and Barnes Mill Road beyond Goggins Lane. A new loop around that area should increase water pressure in the Deacon Hills, Deer Creek, The Meadows and Oak Ridge subdivisions, Althauser said.

While the district supplies water to some areas beyond the city limits, some areas inside the city are supplied by the Madison County Water Utility District.

For example, the area south of the Eastern Bypass along Berea Road is served by the county utility.

Because of low water pressure, the Richmond Fire Department called in tank trucks from the Madison County, White Hall and Blue Grass Army Depot fire departments as it fought a blaze at the Punjab restaurant Dec. 2.

When more water comes in, more has to go out, and the city expects its new Otter Creek sewage treatment plant to go on line in the next 18 to 24 months. The Otter Creek plant will replace both the Dreaming Creek and Tates Creek treatment plants and accommodate future growth, Althauser said. It also will be more efficient and comply with new environmental standards. Two old sewer lift stations will be eliminated by the project.

The $25 million plant is being financed by sewer charge increases to be phased in over the next five years, Althauser said. A 15 percent increase will take effect July 1.

Surface water seeping into the district’s sewer lines has threatened to overwhelm its treatment plants’ capacity. To combat the problem, the district is working with a contractor to inspect old sewer lines in the Southland Drive, Mahaffey Drive and Lancaster

Avenue areas by remote video camera. Also, smoke forced into sewer lines will indicate a leak if it rises above ground. The project, which will continue into 2008, has achieved significant results so far, Althauser said.

There is good news for the utility’s natural gas customers. Plentiful supplies exist for the high-demand winter season and prices should remain steady. “Our ample storage capacity allowed us to buy gas on the spot market this summer when prices were low,” Althauser said.

In the near future, the utility will begin replacing some of its aging gas distribution lines.

The city marked a milestone in 2007 as 30-year employee Steve Fowler retired as water superintendent.

“Steve began as a trainee at the water treatment plant,” Althauser said. Dannie Pearson, who began as a treatment plant trainee 18 years ago, is the new water superintendent.

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.

        

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