 |
||||
 |
||||
Cost of Drinking WaterMay 2010 Dear Lake Auburn Watershed Resident, Please take a minute to listen to an important message: you have been subsidizing the cost of drinking water for many years AND ITS ABOUT TO GET EVEN MORE EXPENSIVE……here’s why. Auburn/Lewiston is different than 96% of all other communities as it has a waiver from the Federal drinking water requirements. THE WATER IS NOT FILTERED. Filtering was once deemed too costly and water authorities decided years ago to manage the water supply through a watershed management program putting many cost(s) on the backs of local property owners and creating a powerhouse that even our City Council questions. For a copy of the City Council meeting dated May 18th, 2009 (on DVD), you can Email Mary Lou Magno, mmagno@ci.auburn.me.us or call 333-6600. Although these water delivery cost(s) should have been completely paid by the water/sewer rate payers, the restrictions on these lands and cost(s) associated with living here has essentially promoted an excellent environment, conserving thousands of acres for resource protection and (limited) recreation. But the two questions for 2010-2020 are: IS THIS WAY STILL NECESSARY? And can we seek alternatives to provide clean, cost effective water while maintaining our precious environment? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH As of April 19, 2010 there is a new watershed management plan. I was recently charged $75.23 by the Auburn Water District to get a copy of what cost the rate payers $65,000.00 to basically tell Auburn *** to further restrict the rights of property owners and to further “bill” us PRIVATE RATE payers (PRP) for the cost of delivering water down town. As a rural land owner (PRP) we have already paid for the construction of and continue to pay for the upkeep of our own wells and disposal fields! What can you do? Sign the back of this letter, talk to your neighbors, your family & friends from Auburn and snail mail and/or EMAIL your comments to Mr. Glenn Aho, Auburn City Manager, care of his assistant Karen @ . kveilleux@auburnmaine.gov. Addressing your Councilor’s & political representatives would be a bonus plan that will help you directly reduce your living cost(s) as well. Good Luck, citizens can really make the difference! Dan Bilodeau *** Lewiston is along for the FREE ride when it comes to the cost Auburn “tax payers” endure in the watershed management program. The lake and property values are ALL IN AUBURN. ** I AGREE, LETS GET FILTERED WATER! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary of Yearly Expenses based on 15 recommendations in the plan: $ 2, 140, 500.00 (est.) OPTION B – UPGRADE existing UV filtration plant/meet Federal standards Add micro membrane filtration and cut watershed management plan: $ 4,000,000.00 (one time estimated cost) There would be no additional cost to water rate payers as most expenses above (outlined in the management plan) would be eliminated which would offset the cost to bond the project upgrade. Yearly maintenance cost(s) would be considerably less than current watershed management plan cost. The future, even more expensive plan as well as the requirement to report raw water quality would be unnecessary. More jobs would be created! MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE TRUE COST TO DELIVER WATER WOULD DECLINE, the drinking water quality would improve, and the environment would continue to be protected by city ordinance. PLEASE HELP US RETURN THIS GREAT POND BACK TO ALL THE PEOPLE, not just the water rate payers! Lake Auburn Watershed Neighborhood Association (LAWNA) 501c3 corp., PO BOX 1493, Auburn, ME 04210
|
||||
| Web Management by: DKP | ||||
pdf version
