Centralia residents to vote on water, sewer bond; expected to see increase in utility rates

In just a few days, Centralia residents will be voting on a bond issue that would help improve their current water and sewer plant.

Voters will see a $7.8 million bond issue on the ballot. City leaders say the improvements have to be made, regardless if voters approve it, in order to meet state clean water standards. The passing of the bond issue would allow for residents to not see as much of an increase in their rates. If the bond issue doesn’t get passed, residents could see rates increase by nearly four to five times the amount.

The current plant is 36 years old and is in need of new machinery for removing minerals and heavy metals from the water supply. The water system is seeing heavy amounts of lime residue that’s seeping in leaving calcium buildup, affecting household appliances.

City Administrator, Matt Harline told ABC 17 News, “They (workers) have been able to make the plant last longer than what’s expected. So 30 years is a good run,” he said.

Centralia’s E.coli and ammonia levels are higher than levels allow. The city has four years to make improvements to the system. Regardless whether voters approve of the bond or not, improvements will have to be made; therefore rates will increase.

Harline said the benefit to passing the bond is residents won’t see as much of an increase due to lower interest rates.

About 90 percent of the city’s treated wastewater is applied to crop fields and the remaining 10 percent goes into a overland flow system which will not meet new environmental standards which is why the sewer plant needs upgrades.

City leaders say this bond option is the cheaper option rather than building a new plant.