March 29, 2024

City Water Woes Continue...

A Big Stink Over Sewer Bills and Water:

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Most city council meetings are sparsely attended. Not the last couple of meetings. City residents are incensed with the latest round of water and sewer usage bills. People rose to speak loud and long about their bills, many of which more than doubled. The item was placed on the November agenda by ward two councilman Helder Cunha. "I put this on the agenda because like all of you, I was appalled when getting my water bill," said Cunha. "I'm going to work to do something about this. Many here are on fixed incomes. This has been an ongoing thing for years. It bothers me to see this and look at a $19 million water bond issue," continued Cunha. Ward three councilman Tom Rose agreed with Cunha. "I've been against the $19 million bond. I realize we have a problem with the sewer plant, etc., but there must be a better way. This has struck us (council) as well as you," said Rose. "We need to set up something with the city manager to rectify this," added Rose. Acting city manager Paul Lemont was not at that November meeting.

A long line of speakers angrily addressed the council and the assembled crowd. "I came here tonight, I've met with the city manager before. I'm not happy with everything," said Edward Lynch. Lynch a former state representative, announced for city council in ward one, but withdrew his candidacy. "I don't water my lawn and my bill went from $127. to $313. My neighbors bills are $600. to $900. for sewer and water," said Lynch. "When people call the city they are asked if they water their lawns and have checked for plumbing leaks. I am sick of the water department telling people to check your sprinkler," Lynch added. Lynch described the case of 93 year old Nancy Stevens, a former school committee and council member. "She uses a sprinkler in July and August. Her bill went from $57 to over $1,500 in one year," Lynch told the council as the large audience gasped out loud. "This is absolutely crazy, if they change her meter will they reimburse her if it was in error," he asked.

Steven's daughter Nancy Lavallee spoke next and re-iterated what Lynch had said. "My mother paid $1,569 after paying only $57 for the same cubic feet of water last year," said Lavallee. "The city wants her to check her system. When the city sees a large discrepancy like this they should not just send a letter, they should get out there and find out what's going on. I'm disgusted we're all furious. The city didn't do anything except to say check your toilets and water sprinklers," said Lavallee.

Daniel Santos told the council that he is paying an increase but is using less water. "Nothing is leaking. I'm not satisfied with (city manager) Lemont. I called him and he said - what do you want me to do about it?" claimed Santos. "I've lived in Rumford for 36 years, I'm ashamed to open my faucets or tell my granddaughter not to shower. I water my lawn to make my property look good. It's not a free country anymore, it's a slave country," said an upset Santos. "I wanted Lemont here tonight. He is not here because everybody is here," said an upset Santos to thunderous applause and shouts.

"Why? What happened in three months," asked another speaker, Eduardo Almeida. "It's not fair. I hoped somebody knows something. When you guys want a vote you listen, but when you get that chair and sit, you don't know nobody," Almeida told the council members.

Residents continued to speak out in anger and sometimes twisted the facts but those in attendance were in a bad mood all night. Antonio Braga said that he has lived in the city since 1962. There used to be a time that we didn't pay a sewer fee. Now we pay three times more for sewer than for the regular water. We can't take it anymore, if the sewer water costs more we should be able to drink it," chided Braga. "I want the names of the water department people, where are they, home sleeping making $300,000 to $400,000 a year?" he asked.

Assistant Mayor Rose said that problems started when the sewer plant was prioritized "back in 2006-08 by a previous city administration and council". "It was sold to an outside company and then the Narragansett Bay Commission got involved. The expenses got out of control, we're as upset as you are," Rose told the crowd. "The next meeting, we should have the water department staff and sewer plant executives here," said Helder Cunha. "That's a start," agreed Braga. "We'll also have Mr. Lemont here," added Cunha.

One speaker, while concerned with the water bills, wondered if residents were checking into the water quality. "Our drinking water has failed quality testing before. The water is not safe, it's an easy fix if you hire the right people," said Heather Welshman. "What are we drinking? There are certain levels of chemicals, are they causing cancer? I live and work in East Providence, if I don't think we're safe, it will make me move," said Welshman. Marco Pacheco said that city rates are higher than other cities. "East Providence has a 315% higher rate for water. The sewer usage rate is high," Pacheco maintained. Pacheco's figures were not disputed by city officials present. Pacheco recommended that the council look into a "delay" or hold on residents' billing due dates. "Maybe we can have a grace period for everyone until we investigate this matter," said Rose. Rose and the council will hold a public meeting to discuss any possible solutions. The $19 million water system bond issue still is in the cards for city taxpayers unless an alternative plan becomes available. State and private engineers have said the bond issue is a must.

Special Meeting November 25th - Minor Relief - More Study

At a special council meeting held just before Thanksgiving, the city council voted several different actions intended to lighten the burden on furious and frustrated residents. Once again the council chamber was crowded with angry citizens demanding answers. Basically the council allowed for the city to defer or pay the controversial water bills on a monthly basis instead of quarterly. The city will look into refinancing the current bond and look into the contract with Narragansett Bay Commission. The council will also engage into a study of city water rates every two years.

Some state and local officials have considered switching to the Pawtucket water supply instead of a cross bay pipeline fix: Kenneth Burke, General Manager of the RI Water Resources Board, made a presentation to the city council in late May about bringing Pawtucket water to East Providence as part of the city's long range water woes solution. He had a rough go of it. Burke didn't come armed with any handouts, visuals or written data and at least two council members weren't ready to drink the Pawtucket water. "There is an initiative in the state administration to engage a 'Pawtucket Pipeline Project' with water from Pawtucket being piped to East Providence. We endorse this initiative," Burke told the council. The Pawtucket to EP pipeline is a proposal in the Governor's budget for 2015 which would include East Providence using Pawtucket water as another source of water for EP's beleaguered water infrastructure. This discussion is on top of East Providence recently raising water fees and finally supporting a controversial $19 million corrective bond issue. The city is faced with a costly, almost prohibitive replacement of the cross bay pipeline from Providence now serving East Providence or finding another source and path for water to enter East Providence. The plan at that time did not sit well with then Assistant Mayor Tom Rose or former council member Chrissy Rossi. "We're getting lots of ifs, maybes, nothing is on paper. No visuals, except that water jar in front of us," said Rose. I was against the last project at $19 million and now we're up to $35 million," said Rose. "Your intentions all along have been to hook up with this Pawtucket water pipeline. That's why we haven't looked at many options," Rose told city officials and Burke. "Basically you want to go to the state legislators and tell them you have East Providence on board with this - so you (legislators) should be also," asked Rose. "Yes, sir," answered Burke.

And these problem areas still face the city. A new storage tank is needed, transmission of water via a main pipe and chlorinating the water locally. The city needs to replace the storage tank in Kent Heights. This is the lower tank which was built in the 1960’s. “The taller spherical tank was built in the 1990’s,” said Stephen Coutu of the DPW, referring to the replacement of the city’s former iconic red and white checked landmark water tank. The city also needs to bring water in from Providence where it is purchased to a local site for a chlorination process. “We need to redesign the transmission of water into the city,” said Coutu. “The current old system wasn’t devised to put water in the tank first and aerate and chlorinate and then send to homes,” added Coutu.

The newly sworn in council will have its' hands full with a permanent solution to a city aging water supply infrastructure with some underground piped at least 100 years old.

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