The utility budgets will keep water and sewer rates steady during 2018.
Pleasant Prairie’s water and sewer rates are based on the size of the meter and the volume of water used. Water rates are tiered based on the number of gallons consumed; while sewer rates are calculated with a winter-based average to account for water used on lawns or in yards that will not pass through the sanitary sewer system.
During 2018, the water utility will continue upgrading water meters and make upgrades to the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) to monitor energy usage in the water system using updated reports at the water booster stations. SCADA is a computerized control system that reports activity in sewer and water utilities. One time capital water utility projects include the 29th Avenue water main extensions, replacing flow meters at reservoirs, water lab equipment, and a generator at Lakeview Tower.
As part of the sewer utility budget, staff will rebuild the Bentz Lift station in 2018. The old lift station has exceeded its useful service life. The new lift station will have new pumps, a back-up generator, safety grating, controls, and monitoring devices. A new security fence will be constructed around the 192 lift station. An ongoing goal is to reduce the amount of Inflow and Infiltration (I/I) that leaks into the sewer system. Areas within the sewer district will be evaluated by staff over the winter months to identify where the worst I/I flows are entering the system. Staff will use portable flow meters and smoke testing equipment to help identify those areas and they will be repaired to lower the treatment costs to the Utility. A SCADA historian upgrade, alarm software and radio upgrade will take place as joint sewer and water utility projects during 2018.
Utility staff will continue to implement new technology to streamline operations and improve efficiency to help control costs. The water utility remains debt free. At the end of 2018, the sewer utility is expected to have approximately $2.47 million in outstanding principal, with $700,000 paid in 2017 and $670,000 projected to be paid in 2018. The Village intends to pay down the remaining debt by 2020 and to build reserves for future infrastructure replacement.