The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1959-04-02
Council Hears BPA Plans for
City Water Softening Plant
$4,000 Project
Would Require
500 Rate Boost

bIuIIton excessively hard wa
ter, which costs residents thou
sands of dollars annually in
household softening systems, ex-
ira soaps and softening agents
and in machinery and plumbing
repairs, may be softened at the
municipal waterworks, if council
approves plans of the board of
public affairs.
At a joint meeting of council
and the BPA Tuesday evening
Clayton Harkness, president of
the BPA laid plans before coun-
Gil for extensive Improvements to
the village water system.
Members of council listened at
tendvely along with a group of
women from the Business and
Professional Women's club, as
the needs of the water board
were explained.
It appeared that the expendi-
ture of approximately $50, 900 for
new pumping equipment, a build
ing to house it and a garage will
be essential. This improvement
was sought at the time the old
light and power plant was sold,
but was delayed when bids far
exceeded estimates.
Pressing Luck Too Far
Mr.. Harkness said the board
now feels that continued use of
the present pumps is pressing
luck too far. The board urges the
improvement as soon as possible
or face consequences of a serious
breakdown.
Another question IS whether
council believes an additional
$4,000 should be spent to provide
a water softening room in the
new building looking forward to
the time when the water viii be
treated by the municipal plant.
Or, asked the waterworks
board, is Bluffton ready to spend
a total of S90,0 to put the soften
ing plant into operation at once.
Engineer Attends Meeting
Harold K. Strout of the engi-
neering firm of Finkbeiner, Pet
lis and Snout, laid the plan be-
fore council He explained that
the local water supply from deep
wells contains 636 parts hardnczs
per million whereas this could ke
reduced to 73 parts per milljon
for satisfactory household use.
This would eliminate the need
for household softeners and tis-
terms, he said. ~
The engineer estimated that
the automatic system would re-
quire $3.50 worth of salt per
year, about $500 for personnel
to handle operation and other
minor costs totaling $500.
Financing Explained
Upon the matter of financing
Mr.. Strout said that general OBJ
legation bonds of the village
could be issued and retired from
water revenue. This type bond,
he said, could be sold at lower
rates than a mortgage
revenue bond, but would require
water rates for six
month experience period prior to
,ale of the bonds to determine
what the rate would have to be
% retire the bonds.
1t was estimated that the es-
;ential $4,000 project can be fl
lanced over a 20-year period with
IN approximate 19 per cent in
,rease in water rates.
Mr.. Harkness explained that
his would not affect the rates
laid for sewage disposal which
ire billed at the same time, but
'nly 19 per cent of the water
:harge.
Rate Hike Necessary
The retirement of bonds suffi-
ient to handle the entire soften
ng system project would require
n increase of So per cent ap-
'roXimately. This includes suffi-
lent revenue to retire the bonds
nd pay the additional cost of
perating the system.
Mr.. Strout told council that a
Z per cent increase would not
'ut Bluffton water rates out of
inc with those charged in many
owns of comparable size.
Mayor David Riser said that,
he could eliminate his water
rental charge, his water
ates could be doubled and he
would still break even.
The Mayor estimated that
3luffton residents would more
(See 'Softening' on p. 10)