Published on White River Now December 22, 2022
Southside Public Water Authority announces water, sewer rate increase
Southside residents will see a bump in some utility rates next year.
According to a release from the Southside Public Water Authority (SPWA), the utility’s board voted to increase water and sewer rates at its meeting earlier this month. The increase is due to combating inflating costs the utility has experienced over the last few years, the release said.
SPWA officials said the new rate structure was “…designed to limit the effect on customers considering the current economic climate.”
“Rising fuel costs have driven up everything the authority purchases for operation and maintenance, including water treatment chemicals,” SPWA manager Scott Williams said in the release. “Chemicals have increased significantly during this timeframe, with average chemical pricing rising 26%. Sodium Hypochlorite, our primary disinfectant, has risen 102% with expectations that it will continue to increase. Rail transport costs have a dramatic effect on bulk chlorine related products, so we must expect further increases as the rail workers union negotiations continue. Water and sewer repair products have increased an average of 90%, with many increasing between 135-235%. Manufacturers are still struggling to produce the necessary product as well. Items we previously received within two weeks are now taking up to six months to receive. This has left systems scrambling to secure product necessary for their operations.”
The release noted Williams presented the SPWA Board of Directors with a rate study before determining the appropriate rate adjustment.
“The directors trimmed rate increases as much as possible, giving consideration to low-use fixed income homes, as well as the authority’s large consumers. We want to continue to attract chicken growers to our area with moderate rates. Some water providers in our area are currently charging $8-9 per 1000 gallons which has been fueled by the newly passed Act 605 of 2021,” said Williams.
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (ANRC) is taking control of water rate structuring within the State of Arkansas to ensure utilities have the funds necessary to operate according to regulatory drinking water laws. This includes collection of money for capital improvement projects that relate to long range planning for each utility, the SPWA release said.
“We are prepared to present as much information as possible to ANRC to help keep our rates as low as possible,” said Williams.
(Click here for information on Act 605.)
New customers without usage history will be charged a fixed monthly rate of 5,000 gallons per month until a November through February average is established. For the next 12 months, the fixed monthly charge will be based on the previous November through February average water usage, ranging from a base fee of $30 (minimum/zero gallons) to a fixed rate of $3.00/1000 gallons.
The release also noted SPWA Office Manager Katie Richardson wants poultry growers to be aware of Act 970 (see below), which was amended in April of 2021. The act allows a sales and use tax exemption for their farms concerning utilities, including water.
“Katie has been preparing to reach out to our chicken farmers so they can take advantage of these savings,” said Williams.
In other business, 2023 budgets consisting of $3,073,962.00 for water operations, and $643,510.00 for wastewater operations were adopted.
The board also learned that Position 7 currently held by Gary Mize will be up for election at the authority’s annual meeting Feb. 14, 2023. Article III of the authority’s policy and procedures handbook states that a person wishing to be elected to the board of directors make their intent known at least 35 days prior to the annual meeting by filing a form at the authority’s business office specifying the position they intend to run for. The deadline for filing is Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. Mize has filed for reelection to his respective board position. Act 605 of 2021 does require all new board members to complete eight hours of training within one year of being elected.
Published in The Batesville Daily Guard August 22, 2022
Sewer expansion project for Southside
The Southside Public Water Authority Board of Directors voted recently, to proceed with construction of a wastewater expansion project that will provide sewer to customers along Highway 25/14 and Fred St. in Desha.
NLS Construction, LLC from Rose Bud (White County) was awarded the contract of $1,802,514. This expansion project will provide for the current needs of the existing customers within the new service area that signed up to take the sewer, as well as future residential and commercial growth within the service area that includes the heavily traveled Highway 25/14 corridor that leads into the Southside-Batesville area.
The project includes an additional force main lift station as well as approximately four miles of force main, 31 simplex grinder pumps, three duplex grinder stations, and one quad grinder station.
“The area to be served has issues with private septic systems during the wet weather times of year”, said to Authority Board President Keith Harmon.
“This will provide a much more sanitary service during those times of year and allow the landowners to fully utilize their properties year-round.”
The project will be completely funded by money that was secured when the Water Authority took advantage of low interest rates and re-issued municipal bonds totaling $16.5 million dollars in early 2020.
“We were able to leverage our savings in interest and gain additional capital to fund projects that would provide beneficial services to our customers,” said Scott Williams, Authority Manager. “This also provides additional revenue that helps to provide long term stability to our rate structure.”
The bond re-issue was done without increasing any additional monthly debt to the Authority.
“When the project is near completion, we will continue to look at other densely populated areas for sewer improvements within the Southside area. It is important when we reach out, that customers respond in a timely manner”, said Harmon, “we need to have a large percentage in the proposed area to sign up to take the service to allow us to fund the capital improvements. We were right at 90 percent participation on this project, that is why it is becoming a reality for these residents.”
Published on Arkansas Money & Politics December 1, 2021
https://www.armoneyandpolitics.com/southside-water-school-solar-energy/
Southside Public Water Authority and Southside School District have partnered to implement co-located solar arrays, with the help of Little Rock energy consultant company, Entegrity. By sharing a site and reducing fixed costs, Entegrity reports that the Water Authority and School District increased the amount each will save over the life of the projects—estimated at $1M and $2.3M, respectively.
Southside School District is a school district in Southside, a town located south of Batesville, in Independence County. The Entegrity team designed the systems and is currently on-site for construction.
Water treatment and distribution make up the majority of the Water Authority’s energy consumption. Southside Public Water Authority’s new 480 kW array will significantly reduce its operating expenses and bring more renewable energy to the state.
“Our services attribute to the daily activities of our community, so we wanted this project to be both environmentally beneficial and fiscally responsible. Adding this infrastructure adds value to our facilities and helps us stabilize the impact of energy on our customers’ water rates for the coming years,” stated Southside Public Water Authority Manager, Scott Williams.
The District’s 1.44 MW array is expected to be completed by early 2022. “Southside schools and taxpayers will benefit from this project as it greatly reduces the cost to keep our facilities running. We can now shift school funds from utility bills to education efforts,” added Dion Stevens, Southside School District Superintendent.
Senator James Sturch (R-AR) commented, “Southside Public Water Authority and Southside School District become better stewards of the community and boost our area’s economic development with this venture. As a proponent of the Solar Access Act, I’m excited to see Southside take advantage of solar energy.”
Published in The Batesville Daily Guard November 29, 2021
Sunny Southside: Community to reap benefits of solar
Published on White River Now June 17, 2020
Southside Public Water Authority meets, takes action on moving forward with sewer expansion
The Southside Public Water Authority (SPWA) met Tuesday night, June 9, for a regular monthly board meeting. Among the agenda items, standard monthly financial and system total reports were reviewed and approved for the months of March, April, and May, according to a press release from the SPWA.
Matthew Dunn, president of Crist Engineers, presented an update on the sewer expansion project targeting properties along Arkansas Highway 25/Heber Springs Road, as well as properties on Fred Street. Of the 51 homes targeted, 46 have agreed to connect to the sewer service as it becomes available.
According to Dunn, the total project is estimated to cost $1,144,000. The board unanimously voted to accept the estimated cost summary as presented by Dunn and to enter into an engineering agreement with Crist Engineers.
The expansion project will be funded from part of the $3.46 million construction fund acquired from the sale of water and sewer revenue improvement and refunding bonds.
In other business, Manager Scott Williams notified the board of some deterioration to the brackets holding the SWPA’s 12-inch steel water line that spans the White River Bridge.
This line provides for the interconnection between the Southside Public Water Authority and Batesville Water Utilities.
Beverly’s Construction submitted a quote of $43,500, which the board unanimously voted to accept. Repairs will take place later this year.
Published in the Batesville Daily Guard March 15, 2019.
https://www.guardonline.com/archives/result.php?ID=144698&kw=Water
Water Authority produces 6 billionth gallon
SOUTHSIDE -- Six billion and counting.
At the Southside Public Water Authority's regular monthly board Tuesday night, Manager John Richardson put on display the 6 billionth gallon of water produced from the water treatment plant.
In January, officials reported that water treatment plant was treating and pumping an average of 1.16 million gallons per day for a water service population of 9,553 people.
After convincing the Arkansas Department of Health for the need of a surface water treatment facility to meet the demands of the communities south of the White River, the Kruger ActiFloc/ActiFlow water treatment plant was constructed during 2002 and put into service in March 2003.
Its innovative design, which uses ballasted flocculation, provides for an increased flow rate and response time when treating the changing conditions of the White River, Richardson said.
"The process allows for easy treatment of water during times of high turbidity," he said. "So when the White River is flooding, it's business as usual."
Among other agenda items, standard monthly financial and system total reports were reviewed and approved.
Gary Vinson, the authority's attorney, had some research concerning the Freedom of Information Act and how requests should be made to the water authority for those who want the information.
After discussion by board members, a policy was adopted stating that individuals who would like to have information reproduced must make their request known during business hours at the authority office. The information requested would then be reproduced for the individual at a cost of 20 cents per sheet.
Published in the Batesville Daily Guard January 10, 2019.
https://www.guardonline.com/archives/result.php?ID=143714&kw=Water
Southside Water Authority sees growth
SOUTHSIDE -- In the last five years alone, the Southside Public Water Authority has gained 500 customers and grown by leaps and bounds.
On Tuesday night, Authority Assistant Manager Scott Williams presented to the Southside water board the 2018 year-end report, showing at year's end the authority had treated and pumped 422,976,000 gallons of water which generated $2,203,179 in water sales.
The water treatment plant averaged treating and pumping 1,159,000 gallons per day with the daily peak of 1,711,000 gallons occurring May 10.
Southside ended 2018, serving 3,821 meters for a water service population of 9,553 people.
By comparison, in 2013 for example, Southside treated and pumped 302,872,000 gallons of water, generating $1,464,040 in water sales. The daily average rate of treated and pumped water per day was 829,786 gallons, and the authority was serving 3,625 meters for a water service population of 9,062 people.
Wastewater
In 2018, the wastewater plant treated 51,183,466 gallons of sewage which generated $428,739.00 in wastewater sales, and averaged treating 140,229 gallons of sewage per day.
Wastewater collection service was provided to 861 homes and businesses.
Total water and sewer revenues for the year combined including connection fees, interest income and other income totaled $2,929,221.39.
Authority field personnel installed 42 new water connections, five new wastewater connections, repaired 96 main leaks, and 93 service line/setter leaks, worked 1,451 work orders for both water and wastewater, performed 103 plumbing inspections, responded to 838 locate requests, and requested 296 locates.
Board positions
Manager John Richardson informed the directors that Andrew Brock of 460 McHue Road filed for board position 6 by the Jan. 8 deadline as required by article III of the Authority's policy.
Carolyn Hopping, current incumbent of position 6, has filed for re-election. Voting for position 6 will take place at the authority's annual meeting, set for Feb. 12.
No one filed in opposition for board positions 1 and 3 so therefore, Tim Thomas and Rick Siler, who both filed for re-election, will be re-elected to their respective positions at the annual meeting.
In other business, the directors reviewed December water and wastewater financial reports and the December system total report. Authority attorney Gary Vinson had no legal updates to report.
6 billionth gallon
