Leaks are the problem

Dear editor:

Lots of good information in local newspapers lately. However, irrespective of what the headlines say, the articles still require thorough reading to determine all of the facts. For example, recent articles prove beyond any doubt that Hot Springs does not now, or ever have, a “water crisis.” Yes, the much ballyhooed “water crisis” which subsequently became a “water shortage” was really never a crisis or even a shortage. (https://ccc.center/news-videos/, “Crisis video”).

The March 17 Sentinel-Record headline, “State rethinks plant ratings,” contains great information, but the deputy city manager immediately spun the rerating to say, “The states response confirms the need for additional supply and treatment capacity.” No – it does not. This simply means the city may have overrated its capabilities. Typically, such a downgrade in claimed capacity means that more treated water was produced than should have been due to not retaining water in settling basins long enough, facility conditions not being properly maintained to produce water quantities claimed or metering errors occurred.

Even with the downgraded capacity of 25 mgd (million gallons per day), the article lists an average daily production of 15.12 mgd and a delivered amount of 7.8 mgd, well within the 25 mgd of capacity. The huge difference in the 15.12 mgd produced and the 7.8 mgd delivered results in 7.32 mgd of what the state calls “UFW” (unaccounted for water). The UFW is realistically “system losses,” most of which are simply “leaks.” Remember the lake at Belvedere that was actually a 30-plus-yearold water system leak? Just a week ago, a pond at Forest Lakes basically disappeared when the city finally repaired the leak that fed water to it 24/7.

Instead of issuing $110 million in bonds, how about we consider fixing more of our leaks? Ask yourself if it makes any sense to spend $110 million to put even more water into a piping system that loses over half of what is put in it.

Unlike Hot Springs, Little Rock and North Little Rock are both growing. What are they doing with the money from their most recent water rate increase? An Arkansas Democrat-Gazette article (Jan. 15, 2018) states the $1 increase in CAW (Central Arkansas Water) rates to $7.85 base rate is “to fund the replacement of outdated and aging pipes.” This raises the amount they were spending to fix leaks from $1.4 million per year to $4.9 million per year.

In summary, Hot Springs could spend money to repair its horrendous water leaks, upgrade capacity at its current treatment plant (specifically to utilize the additional

10 mgd already contracted), and transfer the utility management and operations to an autonomous board as it was until about

1994. Back then, being separate from city politics, the system even had a $25 million surplus sitting in their contingency account.

Want your water and sewer rates to go down? Allow the utility to be run by business people.

Want you water and sewer rates to go up? Let city politicians continue to run your utility. Bob Driggers Hot Springs