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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Roseburg man among group that subdued gunman on train in France ... No plans underway to expand Wild and Scenic designation on Rogue River ... Lewiston Dam releases water to help Klamath salmon ... Roseburg man among group that subdued gunman on train in France ... No plans underway to expand Wild and Scenic designation on Rogue River ... Lewiston Dam releases water to help Klamath salmon ... OUR VIEW Our View: Expanding water plant capacity is a wise investment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 19, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Aug. 19, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Customers of the Medford Water Commission, who are more numerous now than ever, are fortunate to be able to turn on the tap and get, clean, cool water anytime without thinking about it. They are also fortunate that the Water Commission is thinking about expansions and upgrades to keep up with that ever-growing demand. The downside of that diligence is that expansion costs money. The Water Commission is planning to increase water rates for all its customers to pay for a four-year, $17.8 million project to remove sediment from Rogue River water at the Duff Treatment Plant. The project is part of an overall effort to boost the plant's output to 65 million gallons a day. It now produces 45 million. Big Butte Springs, Medford's primary water source since 1927, produces 26.4 million gallons a day. Over the years, the water system has expanded to deliver water to Eagle Point, Central Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, Talent and, most recently, Ashland. That increased demand, along with population growth, means a need for more output from the treatment plant. The Water Commission also must be prepared to provide enough water to make up the difference should a problem arise that interrupts the flow from Big Butte Springs. That could mean pulling more water from the Rogue in winter, when the water contains more sediment. The work now underway will install a flocculation system at the plant, which involves adding a coagulant to the water that binds with sediment particles and causes them to settle out, reducing the amount of sediment caught by filters. This in turn reduces maintenance and limits water lost when filters are cleaned. It also avoids having to add more filters. The smaller cities that will be affected by wholesale water rate increases to help pay for this work — Medford residents will pay more, too — have raised questions about the methodology used to calculate the cost and the resulting rates. The consultant that prepared the rate study has pledged to take another look at the calculations, which is a sign the commission is willing to listen to the cities' concerns and respond to them. In the end, there is no avoiding some rate increases to pay for work that is necessary to assure uninterrupted water service for most of the valley's residents. All of those residents should be thankful for the foresight of Medford civic leaders who nine decades ago conceived of the plan to pipe water from Big Butte Springs, and for the Medford residents at the time who voted to pay for it. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Aug. 19, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501