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Loudoun Water Approves Community Systems Rate Increase

2012-02-10T21:00:00Z

From Loudoun Water February 10 2012:

Loudoun Water Board Approves Community System Rate Increase

Also Approves Monthly Billing for Community System Customers

CONTACT:
Mike McGill
O) 571-291-7969
mmcgill@loudounwater.org

Ashburn, Virginia – February 10, 2012: During its February board meeting held Thursday, February 9, 2012, Loudoun Water’s Board of Directors voted 5-2-2 to approve a rate increase for developer-initiated community systems and the implementation of a three-tier water rate system consistent with the system for Loudoun Water’s Central System customers. Voting for the proposal were Loudoun Water Board Chairman Fred Jennings and Board Members Johnny Rocca, Mark Koblos, Pravin Gandhi and Ralph Watson. Voting against the proposal were recently appointed Board Members Hobie Mitchel and John Whitmore.

Rate studies conducted for Loudoun Water showed the cost for operating the community systems results in almost a $100,000 annual deficit. The deficit is tripled if renewal, replacement and capital funds are NOT fully recovered. “No one wants to see their rates go up,” said Chairman Jennings. “On the other hand, it is the number one responsibility of [the Loudoun Water] board to set rates. We are under a fiduciary responsibility to recover costs and not to operate at a deficit.”

The following rates and structure will be put in place for all usage on or after February 10, 2012, for Community System residents in Lenah Run, Elysian Heights, Raspberry Falls, Selma Estates, Beacon Hill, Rokeby and Courtland. New metered community systems that begin service will also adhere to this schedule. Community System customers will also begin to be billed on a monthly basis instead of the current quarterly process.

The approved rates are as follows, as of February 10, 2012:

                                    Monthly
                                    Consumption                        Rate per
                                    Range (gallons)                    1,000 gallons

Tier 1                           0 - 8,400                                  $2.99
Tier 2                           8,401 - 24,400                         $7.23
Tier 3                           > 24,400                                  $9.34

A Basic (fixed) Charge will be billed monthly as follows:

Residential:                                                               $10.04
Commercial:
¾” meter                                                                     $15.06
1” meter                                                                      $34.14
1 ½”                                                                            $55.22
2”                                                                                $90.36
3”                                                                                $150.60
4”                                                                                $251.00
6”                                                                                $502.00

The approved sewer rate is as follows:

Uniform rate per 1,000 gallons                                   $6.00

The approved path forward differed from an initial proposal before the Board in January, which included a three-stage rate increase for years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Comments and questions received during the public comment period requested that the board reconsider its proposal due to its financial impact and a perceived lack of transparency by Loudoun Water. While all legal requirements for public notice were met, five public workshops were held, and a detailed letter was sent to every Community System customer, the board determined that, as a courtesy to the customers, a summary document detailing the proposal should be made available to the public prior to the board’s vote.

The summary document was created in January by Municipal & Financial Services Group and reflected their recommendation for rates. The document was posted online on www.loudounwater.org, sent to the media, and emailed directly to all Community Systems residents and homeowners associations, which gave their email addresses to Loudoun Water.

Loudoun Water Answers Remaining Raspberry Falls Treatment, Pipeline Study Questions

2012-02-06T18:20:00Z

Loudoun Water documents available on Loudoun Water website:

E-mail for Raspberry Falls and Selma Estates Studies Re: Part II of Public Questions 02/02/2012

Public Questions and Comments Re: Studying Options for Raspberry Falls and Selma Estates Part II

Raspberry Cost of Service with Capital 2002-2011

Loudoun Water Transmits Summary of Rate Report to Board, Customers

2012-01-27T12:09:18Z

Notice from Loudoun Water, January 26, 2012 (w/attachment):

Dear Community System Customer:

During its January board meeting held Thursday, January 12, 2012, Loudoun Water’s Board of Directors voted 9-0 to change a proposal to put in place a tiered rate structure and a three-year rate increase for developer-initiated water and wastewater systems, also known as Community Systems, to a proposal to put in place a tiered rate structure and only the first year (2012) of the three-year rate increase.

In a 6-2-1 vote, the board then chose to defer a vote on the 2012 rate structure and rate increase to its February meeting to be held February 9, 2012, at 3 p.m. at Loudoun Water’s Administration Building, 44865 Loudoun Water Way, in Ashburn.

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Comments and questions received during the public comment period and a public hearing held on January 5, 2012, requested the board reconsider its proposal due to its financial impact and a perceived lack of transparency by Loudoun Water.

While all legal requirements for public notice were met, five workshops were held that were open to the public, and a detailed letter was sent to every Community System customer, the board determined that, as a courtesy to the customers, a summary document detailing the proposal should be made available to the public prior to a vote.

Attached in this email is the summary document detailing the original proposal to Loudoun Water’s Board of Directors and its Community Systems customers for review prior to our February board meeting. It was written by Municipal & Financial Services Group, the firm which conducted the original rate review. You may also access the summary document online on our website, www.loudounwater.org. Information about the 2012 portion of the initial proposal is also available on our website.

The summary document was not originally presented in one document but through a series of workshops held by our board. These workshops were open to the public in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. Documents detailing the meetings, as well as the presentations that were made, have been and continue to be available. They can be found under the Board Docs section of our website or by clicking on the links below.

Community Systems Workshop I
June 20, 2011
http://www.boarddocs.com/va/lwva/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=8HUMXY5D5663

Community Systems Workshop II
July 28, 2011
http://www.boarddocs.com/va/lwva/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=8JYH7F471919

Community Systems Workshop III
August 31, 2011
http://www.boarddocs.com/va/lwva/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=8L4JTR4EC303

Community Systems Workshop IV
Sept. 29, 2011
http://www.boarddocs.com/va/lwva/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=8LXR8668723A

Community Systems Workshop V
Nov. 3, 2011
http://www.boarddocs.com/va/lwva/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=8MSTGR711657

The public comment period on the proposal for 2012 remains open and Loudoun Water will take comments in writing until February 9, 2012. If you would like to make comments about the review or the linked documents, email me at mmcgill@loudounwater.org. These comments will be added to ones we have already received and will be presented to our board for review.

Thank you for your consideration,

Mike

Mike McGill
Manager of Community Relations
Loudoun Water

Attachment:

Loudoun Water Community Systems Report v4.pdf (2MB)

Loudoun Water Board Modifies Community System Rate Increase Proposal

2012-01-14T10:44:48Z

Letter from Loudoun Water dated January 13, 2012:

Dear Community Systems Customer,

During its January meeting on Thursday the 12^th, Loudoun Water’s Board of Directors considered a proposal for a tiered rate structure and a three-year rate increase. The proposal was outlined in a letter you mailed to you from Loudoun Water on/or about November 28, 2011. The letter is posted online here.

A press release detailing what occurred at the meeting follows below. The main points of the release below are these:

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Loudoun Water will not consider a rate increase for 2013 and 2014 as part of its proposal moving forward;
A vote on an amended proposal for only 2012 will be deferred until its February meeting so a summary document may be completed and reviewed by Community Systems customers. This document will be completed in the next 10-14 days and sent via email and posted online to Community System customers;
Loudoun Water will not change its standing policy and will not consider charging Community System customers under the same rate structure as customers in its Central System; and
Loudoun Water will research an alternative rate structure that would “unbundle” the community systems and would establish individual rates for individual systems.

Leesburg Today also covered the meeting. Click here to read their story.

Thank you for your consideration,

Mike

Mike McGill
Manager of Community Relations

Public Meeting on Raspberry Falls, Selma Estates Water Solution Studies

2011-11-15T20:20:49Z

Public Meeting on Raspberry Falls, Selma Estates Water Solution Studies on 12/7/2011 and 12/8/2011 at Tuscarora High School, 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Explanation of water source alternatives and opportunity for public input.

Read more for a lengthy letter and attachment from Loudoun Water.

]]> November 15, 2011

Attachment: Raspberry Falls Study Brochure.pdf

Dear Resident:

On November 23, 2010, Loudoun Water was officially informed by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) that the untreated water entering Well PW-1 was Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water or GUDI. As part of their GUDI determination, VDH recommended Loudoun Water consider several actions to address the situation, including the installation of filtration and disinfection treatment for the well and a connection to another waterworks such as the Town of Leesburg.

In response to the determination, Loudoun Water’s Board of Directors directed staff in a December 2010 resolution to consider installation of filtration and disinfection treatment at Raspberry Falls as an option and to evaluate the practicable options which were consistent with the Loudoun County Revised General Plan. Following the resolution, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors requested that Loudoun Water also study a pipeline extension of Town of Leesburg water to Raspberry Falls. Loudoun Water’s board agreed to do so back in January.

For eight months, Loudoun Water worked with Hazen & Sawyer, a leading environmental engineering firm, and the Town of Leesburg to produce studies that would objectively evaluate and determine the options that will address the situation and be able to be constructed.

After careful review of the studies, Loudoun Water found sufficient information to conclude that both the treatment and pipeline options are technically viable (able to be constructed) and identified preferences for a treatment option and a pipeline alignment. Other issues, including operational considerations, costs and implementation timeframes were outlined and found to be factors that could significantly influence a final decision.

Attached you will find a publication we have produced to help explain the studies’ findings. (It is also available online at loudounwater.org.) It provides some background on the situation in Raspberry Falls, describes how the study work was conducted, and details the essential findings in what we hope is a format that is easy-to-understand. If you wish to read the complete studies, you can turn to our website at loudounwater.org and click on the Raspberry Falls or Selma Estates webpage found under Community Systems.

Loudoun Water is guided by our mission to ensure sustainable water services to protect health, the environment and quality of life. Providing a reliable and safe water supply drives our decision-making process. The Well PW-1 GUDI determination highlighted the nature of wells in limestone geology; that some – but not all – wells in the karst can become under the direct influence of surface water over time and require a different level of treatment.

Therefore, after taking all of the facts into consideration, Loudoun Water’s Board of Directors passed a resolution on November 10, 2011, stating its determination that either the preferred treatment option or the preferred pipeline alignment will be selected as the appropriate long-term solution to the situation at Raspberry Falls.

The resolution states, “Because the extension of municipal water into the Rural Policy Area is not permitted by Loudoun County, Loudoun Water will proceed with the installation of membrane filtration for all Raspberry Falls water supply wells and will not proceed with further development of the pipeline extension of Leesburg Town Water unless:

Loudoun County amends the Revised General Plan to authorize the pipeline extension and approves a Commission Permit for the pipeline extension; and
the Town of Leesburg approves an agreement to accept ownership and operation of the Raspberry Falls Community Water System.

Loudoun Water requests that Loudoun County and the Town of Leesburg decide whether to pursue the pipeline extension no later than May 2012 otherwise Loudoun Water will proceed with installation of membrane filtration at Raspberry Falls.

Pursuant to Loudoun Water policies, the cost of improvements to the Raspberry Falls Community Water System will be recovered from Raspberry Falls Customers. Loudoun Water will support the Board of Supervisor’s consideration of establishing a sanitary district.”

(NOTE: The full resolution can be found on the homepage of Loudoun Water’s website, loudounwater.org.)

Loudoun Water will consider the need for membrane filtration for Selma Estates water supply wells following completion and evaluation of the remaining Selma Estates wells.

Loudoun Water has the ability to move forward immediately with work on the treatment option without the need for legislative action. The pipeline option does require legislative action by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Town of Leesburg before work can commence, so we stand ready to work collaboratively with all of the affected parties if the pipeline option is considered by the County and the Town of Leesburg.

We will be prepared to cooperate with all of the affected parties to select the appropriate option and to consider financing vehicles consistent with past actions taken by both the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and the Town of Leesburg to pay for the solution.

It is important to note that the treated water to the Raspberry Falls community has always met EPA and VDH standards. During the timeframes required to determine and implement the appropriate long-term solution, Loudoun Water will continue to fulfill its mission.

When the studies were released to the public on August 22, 2011, Loudoun Water opened a public review and comment period to give interested parties time to ask questions about the studies and give their opinions on its findings. To date, we have received nearly 100 questions from the community.

During our presentation of the studies to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, a request was made for Loudoun Water to add a public meeting to the review and comment process at or near Raspberry Falls to help explain the studies and give the community an additional opportunity to provide input. Loudoun Water is fulfilling this request by holding two public meetings that will provide some flexibility and allow more residents to attend. The content presented at both sessions will be the same.

The public meetings will be held Wednesday, December 7, 2011, and Thursday, December 8, 2011, in the cafeteria of Tuscarora High School, 801 N. King Street, in Leesburg. The sessions will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

I invite you to join us for one of the sessions to hear our presentation and give your input. Representatives from Loudoun Water, Hazen and Sawyer, and other key stakeholders will be on hand to give a presentation about the studies’ findings. Answers to the questions we have received from the community as part of the review and comment process will be given at the sessions. We will also take additional questions that will either be responded to at the meeting or within a two-week timeframe. The public review and comment period will then close on December 31, 2011.

We hope you find the enclosed material helpful to you in forming your opinion and we hope you will share thoughts on the long-term solutions proposed for Raspberry Falls on either December 7^th or 8^th. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Dale Hammes, P.E.

General Manager

Loudoun Water

Important! Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction Schedule

2011-11-11T17:08:00Z

From Mike McGill, Loudoun Water!

Everyone,

Due to weather-related delays and site conditions, construction work on the wastewater treatment plant has fallen behind schedule. To address the issue, our contractor is going to conduct work on the following Saturdays:

11/12
11/19
12/3
12/10
12/17

Normally work would be conducted between 7am and 3:30pm. Given it is the weekend, we have asked for work to begin at 9am and to continue until 5:30pm. The contractor has agreed to work under this schedule.

If the contractor conducts work prior to 9am or if there are other issues with the work, please contact me via email at mmcgill@loudounwater.org.

Mike

Mike McGill
Manager of Community Relations
Loudoun Water

Loudoun High School Blood Donations via Drivers Education

2011-08-03T01:59:42Z

Beginning in September, public high schools across Loudoun County will have a new addition to the Health and Driver Education curriculum: blood donation and collection information. Currently, less than 38 percent of the general population is eligible to donate blood, but the donation rate among 16- to 21-year-olds is at least 75 percent.

The blood donor education will include basic information in the classroom portion of the Driver Education and Health curriculum. For more information about blood donation, visit www.inova.org/donateblood

Leadership Loudoun Accepting Applications

2011-07-18T19:13:08Z

Leadership Loudoun is accepting applications for its 20th Anniversary program year. Plan now to participate in this 9-month immersion program while developing your leadership skills and learning about all things Loudoun. Visit www.leadershiploudoun.org today!

]]> Leadership Loudoun is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 1991, with the mission to develop and engage current and emerging leaders to work together to serve the good of Loudoun County, Virginia. Graduates of the program are active in Loudoun County as they serve on boards, commissions and committees, and volunteer with area non-profits and community organizations.

Since 1992, 455 members have graduated from the Leadership Loudoun program, leaving behind more than 70 legacy projects. Graduates also have served on over 500 Loudoun County boards, commissions and committees. For more information, contact Robin Geiger, Loudoun County Community Relations Manager, at robin.geiger@louduon.gov, 703-771-5511.

Be safe - Change your batteries

2011-03-10T20:45:45Z

"As daylight savings time begins on Sunday, March 13, 2011, the Loudoun County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management reminds residents to change and test the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. This message is simple and the habit can be lifesaving."

Loudoun Water to vote on funding study on extending service with pipeline

2011-01-14T14:58:58Z

From The Washington Post:

By Caitlin Gibson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 14, 2011; 12:17 AM

After years of complaints about water quality in a community near Leesburg, the Loudoun Water board of directors will vote Thursday on whether to fund a study examining the possibility of extending a central water pipeline from Leesburg to Raspberry Falls, a subdivision north of town and west of Route 15.

...

Because Raspberry Falls is part of a rural zoning area, the extension of a central pipeline from Leesburg would require that the supervisors first vote to rezone the community in the county's general plan.

Greg Branic, a member of the Raspberry Falls homeowners association, said that resistance to extending the pipeline is more about the politics of development in a rapidly growing county than addressing a legitimate health problem.

"This is a public safety hazard," Branic said. "It's frustrating for the residents, because it's been really poorly managed and mishandled."

Read the entire Washington Post article here.

Recent Correspondence from Loudoun Water Concerning the Community Well

2010-11-27T23:34:33Z

Loudoun Water issued the following letters to the Raspberry HOA on November 23rd:

Loudoun Water Nov 23 2010 .pdf
Loudoun Water Part 2 Nov 23 2010 .pdf

UPDATE: Public Hearing Scheduled for LOD Amendments

2010-09-17T08:14:26Z

Loudoun County will hold a public hearing on September 29th addressing the proposed amendments to the Limestone Overlay District Zoning Ordinance. All property owners should have received the announcement letter. If not, a copy is attached for reference. LOD Amendmen Public Hearing.pdf
Date: Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Time: 6:00 pm
Place: Board of Supervisors Meeting Room

Loudoun County Government Center
One Harrison Street, SE, First Floor
Leesburg, VA 20175

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Supervisors approve LOD at February 17th Board Meeting

2010-02-25T14:48:55Z

As reported by the Dulles Area Association Of Realtors (DAAR):

On Wednesday, February 17th, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors voted to impose the Limestone Overlay District which alters the way property owners use their land on over 14,000 areas north and south of Leesburg. The LOD regulations apply to all land development applications and those property owners who disturb land within the district.

The regulations would establish setbacks around the karst and sensitive environmental features, restrict uses within such setbacks, require a geophysical study of a site prior to undertaking land development or land disturbance, establish standards for such geophysical studies, require communal well and sewage disposal systems for developments of fifteen or more lots, increase the hydrogeologic study requirements for communal systems, prohibit certain uses in the district, including irrigation systems and establish a requirement to provide notice in all deeds, site plans, and record subdivisions for properties subject to the LOD.

DAAR is exploring opportunities to help mitigate the regulation's impact on property owners. For more information, contact Christine Windle, Director of Government Affairs and Communications, 703/579-0304.

DAAR Limestone Overlay District (LOD) Update

2009-11-24T21:57:10Z

The Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® (DAAR) provides this update on their website:

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors (LCBOS) continued their review and consideration this month of a Limestone Overlay District (LOD) intended to place land use restrictions on 1,200 property owners on 14,000 areas north and south of Leesburg. The LCBOS Transportation and Land Use Committee (TLUC) met on November 18th to discuss the proposed regulations and concerns raised since the public hearing on the issue in September.

At this juncture, the TLUC has approved modifications to the provisions related to the disclosure notice, garden sizes and structures size exemptions. The TLUC will meet on December 16th to discuss further modifications to the proposal which may be considered during the LCBOS business meeting on Tuesday, January 5th, 2010. To express your views on the proposal to the LCBOS, visit www.limestoneboondoggle.com.

Limestone Overlay District (LOD) Update

2009-11-18T11:59:35Z

The Dulles Area Association of REALTORS® provided an update on this critical issue on October 29th. DAAR strongly opposes this potential regulation as an advocate for homeowner property rights and the potential negative impact on property value. Here's an excerpt that includes a call to action:

On Monday, October 26th, the TLUC met and discussed several issues raised at the public hearing and at the September 28th TLUC meeting. The proposal may be considered by the full LCBOS as early as their business meeting on Tuesday, December 1st. For more information, visit the new DAAR call-to-action website on this issue - www.limestoneboondoggle.com

DAAR's full update can be found on their Website at Supervisors Continue Debate on Limestone Overlay District