Westlake To Begin Negotiations With Avon Lake Municipal Utilities

After years of studies, Westlake is moving forward with plans to switch water suppliers from the Cleveland Division of Water to Avon Lake Municipal Utilities.

City Council's Committee of the Whole voted unanimously on Tuesday night to allow Mayor Dennis Clough to begin negotiations with Avon Lake, and to hire a consulting firm to create a plan for design and construction.

Consultants at the firm HTNB began the first feasibility study for the switch back in 2007, and on Tuesday night, council members saw and discussed the results of a second study analyzing risks, benefits, costs and construction involved.

The study recommends that Westlake pursue the change in suppliers, noting that it would improve water pressure, create a new revenue stream for the city, provide lower rates to residents, and give the city control over infrastructure repairs and customer service.

"We've noted instances of bad service, bad response, billing problems, broken hydrants [from Cleveland Water Distribution]," said Ken Brady, Ward 5 councilman after the presentation, adding that he thinks the switch would be a win-win for Westlake. "I think we can do a better job than that. I think it would be hard to do a worse one."

Clough asked the committee to move forward with preparations for the switch.

"This plan would generate enough funds for repairs and lower rates for Westlake residents," he said. "Right now, if we want to continue an aggressive replacement of water lines, it's going to have to come out of the general fund."

Construction

In order to change suppliers, Westlake would have to disconnect existing water mains from the Cleveland Division of Water and construct a pipe to connect to Avon Lake's system. According to HNTB, a 30-inch main from the corporation limit under Schwartz Road would be the shortest and least expensive way to connect, but would leave the city with a single water source.

Director of Engineering Bob Kelly said the single pipe could be split into two parallel pipes, but that would still leave the city with a single water source. Kelly said the city would prefer to have two separate connection points with Avon Lake, but the cost would be prohibitive.

HNTB’s plan suggests constructing a 1 million gallon ground-level tank, which would provide about four hours of water, for emergencies. The tank would hold twice as much water as the tower at Bassett Road, which is owned by Cleveland Water Distribution.

"I think we might want two tanks for eight hours of water just in case," Clough noted.

Costs

HNTB's study estimates that the entire project would cost $17.7 million, including a 25 percent rainy day fund, the $1 million water tank, fittings, valves, lines and more. The actual construction costs for the pipes are set at about $4.8 million.

"A very small amount of line has to come in," Kelly said. "It's a pretty short run on Schwartz— a little over a mile."

About 50 percent of the city's pipes are in excellent condition right now, 25 percent are good and 25 percent are fair, according to Clough. And in order to replace all water mains over 50 years old, the city would need about $33 million, according to Kelly.

"Cleveland just doesn't have enough to fix it all," he said.

Preliminary projections show that the city would be bringing in $1.6 million by 2016 if the switch is made, which would allow the city to make its own repairs and maintain ownership of the pipes. Under Westlake's agreement with Cleveland Water Distribution, any pipes repaired with CWD money come under their ownership.

"That's one thing we should think about," said Council President Michael Killeen. "It generates the ability to upgrade and maintain the system at a lower cost to our residents."

Water rates from Cleveland will be $20.47 for the first thousand cubic feet of water and $41.70 for each additional mcf next year. Avon Lake Municipal Utilities customers in Westlake would be charged a flat fee of $33 per mcf in 2012, but the system would not be in place by then.

Water Pressure

The water pressure from Avon Lake Municipal Utilities would be higher than the pressure from Cleveland, which could cause breaks in old or leaky pipes during the changeover and would require pressure-reducing valves in each home.

"We have no idea what's going to happen," Kelly said. "That's the biggest unknown and the biggest challenge. You could have a series of water main breaks, but we haven't been able to figure out what level that might be."

Kelly said workers would map existing leaks before the switch to prevent as many breaks as possible, and they may try to regulate pressure by opening and closing valves during the switchover. He also said the city could create two pressure zones, reducing the impact on the low pressure areas.

"Most older pipes are in the low pressure areas," he said.

The pressure to individual homes would also increase— greatly in some areas. In the southern western portion of the city, the engineering department has measured water flow at as low as 40 psi, 20 psi below the recommended range of 60 to 80.

HNTB is suggesting that the city install a pressure-reducing valve with new water meters in every home. Most homes in high-pressure areas of the city already have the valves, according to Kelly.

Impact on Neighboring Cities

A couple of council members expressed concerns over what this will mean for neighboring communities linked into the Cleveland water system through Westlake.

"How are the neighboring communities going to get their water?" asked Council President Michael Killeen.

Kelly said the city doesn't plan to do a regional study on the issue, but he will seek the information from the city of Cleveland.