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The water rate increase would pay to construct a water management facility, maintain it and provide treated water for businesses and homes in the village. The facility would be used to filter the water and it would solve the complaints of rust-colored water, along with removing iron and providing softer water.
According to Mayor Joe Reneer, the council looked at applying for grants to fund the facility, however the water bills weren’t high enough to qualify. In order to qualify for the grants, the rates would have to be raised higher than what was currently proposed.
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The proposed rate is double the current rate. Customers who live within the city limits currently pay $4.05 per thousand gallons of water used and that would increase to $8.10, if approved. Those who use St. Paris water and live outside of the city limits would see an increase from the current $8.10 to $16.10.
The improved water won’t be immediately noticeable to customers, Reneer said, because the iron will have to be cleared out of the pipes. But he said consumers who bought water filters should no longer have to use them. Additionally he said those with water softeners will save money because their water softeners won’t be using extra water to rejuvenate.
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The new water treatment plant could also help the city be on the receiving end of new businesses, Reneer said. In the past businesses looking for a community the size of St. Paris had been turned off by the lack of water treatment, he said.
“It’s exciting to give the consumer a better, cleaner product,” he said.
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