Soft water changes may take weeks to detect

City’s $10.5 million conversion expected by end of January 2019.

Miamisburg announced it started producing soft water as one of the last phases in 5-year, $70M water and sewer system overhaul.

Changes in MIAMISBURG — Miamisburg customers’ service as the city begins producing soft water might not be detectable for weeks.

Miamisburg announced this week it has started producing soft water as one of the last significant phases in a five-year, $70 million water and sewer system overhaul.

But the transition is gradual, said Miamisburg Public Works Director Valerie Griffin.

“(Residents will) probably start to notice having to use less soap, shampoo, detergent to wash things because the soap will lather up much better,” Griffin said.

“The water will have a smoother feel. If you have no soft water system in your home you might start noticing some changes in about a month. But the soap is probably about the most noticeable. The taste will probably be a little different because right now it’s got a lot of minerals in it.”

The city is targeting full soft water conversion — a project estimated to cost about $10.5 million — by the end of January 2019. Meanwhile, it is preparing a postcard mailer that includes tips for customers with water softening systems, Griffin said.

The city’s water softening conversion “provides the most direct

benefit to residents” among the projects Miamisburg has undertaken as part of water and sewer system overhaul, according to City Manager Keith Johnson.

The $70 million plan was approved in 2014 and is financed by a series of annual customer rate increases. Many of the upgrades were mandated by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, city officials have said.

The last of the rate hikes went into effect Sept. 1 and should be reflected on customer bills in January. The latest increase would bring the average quarterly bill for water to $143.06 and for sewer to $168.42.

The rate increases have been a point of contention with many residents, who have contended their bills have often been over-inflated. But city officials have said Miamisburg utility rates were artificially low for years.

Before being approved by council, the rate increases were “thoroughly discussed,” Miamisburg Mayor Dick Church, Jr. has said.

When fully implemented, the city’s soft water will have a hardness level of about 7 grains per gallon, or 150 parts per million, less than one-third of previous estimates, according to the city.

For customers who have water softeners in their home and choose to keep them operational, Griffin said it’s important to adjust the unit settings as follows:

■ By end of December, modify the setting to 10 grains per gallon.

■ By end of January, modify the setting to seven grains per gallon.

To avoid problems, “we strongly urge homeowners with water softeners to either disconnect their unit or follow the manufacturer’s instructions to adjust their settings,” Griffin said. “If they do, they’ll get an increased level of softness, but not a level that could harm their plumbing.”