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Meter installation fee will fund water quality By MEG LANDERS New home buyers will spend 42.5 percent more for their water meter come Jan. 1 to partially fund a project that will help Medford's water smell and taste better. The Medford Water Commission is raising the cost of a new water meter for both residential and commercial projects to help pay for a new $5 million to $6 million ozone water treatment plant. Residential water meters, for example, will increase from $549 to $783. Water meters for a large industrial project will rise from $11,692 to $16,671. The increase in fees will cover about $2 million of the project, which is designed to eliminate bad-smelling and bad-tasting algae compounds that arise when Medford's water is supplemented by treated Rogue River water in late summer. "It's a good spend," said Randy Jones, general manager and co-owner of Mahar Homes of Medford. Medford water has had "some taste and odor issues," said Jones, who currently has housing development projects in Medford, Phoenix and Ashland. Larry Rains, Medford Water Commission's principal engineer, said he has not heard of any complaints about the fee increase. "These are services that our community needs," he said. The water commission serves Medford, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Central Point, Eagle Point and White City. It will also serve Talent once the intertie project is complete early next year. As a developer, Jones said he is pleased that only a portion of the ozonation facility fee is getting tacked on to new construction. "Where we really have a problem is where a government entity is trying to pass all their cost on new construction when the whole community benefits," he said, adding that the cost increases are ultimately covered by the new home buyer. "We don't work on a huge profit margin, so whatever the costs of our materials are, we have to pass that along," he said, adding, "I think people who want new homes understand that." During the summer, the Medford Water Commission draws about half its water daily from the Rogue River to supplement its supply at Big Butte Springs, the city's underground source near Butte Falls. The commission has about 100,000 customers. During several recent summers, the presence of an algae byproduct called geosmin has caused a musty smell and taste. The odor and taste are not a health concern and the water remains safe to drink, officials said. The new treatment will eliminate the problem, however. Ozone oxidizes algae byproducts and minerals and kills bacteria and has long been used as a disinfectant for bottled water and hot tubs. The new ozone plant construction has begun at the Robert Duff Treatment Plant near TouVelle State Park. "The plant is going to be running in June," Rains said. The utility also will be reviewing water rates and proposing a rate increase for all customers in March or April, Rains said. The rate hike will cover the remainder of the cost for the new facility as well as general operating cost increases and future electrical, sludge disposal, and pumping upgrades. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.