Dear editor:
The city of Hot Springs (city) is moving forward with plans for a new water treatment plant to be located southeast of Hot Springs (in Hot Spring County). The source of water for this plant would be 15 million gallons per day (mgd) from Lake DeGray. Based on the information that I have received from various sources, I propose an alternate plan.
First the facts (obtained from various city sources):
• Water usage during the period July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2014, is the lowest annual usage in seven years.
• The maximum capacity of the current treatment plant on upper Lake Hamilton is listed as 25 mgd. The city's contract with Entergy allows them to draw 30 mgd.
• Losses from the existing infrastructure are 35-42 percent.
• Formal requests have been submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) for allocations from Lake Ouachita. An 8.75 mgd allocation has been requested by Mid Arkansas Water Association (MAWA) for Hot Springs and an additional 7 mgd has been requested by the city.
Here is my alternate plan:
• Reduce losses to 20 percent. Maximum usage would decrease by a minimum of 3 mgd (15 percent of 20 mgd).
• Increase capacity of the existing treatment plant from 25 mgd to 30 mgd.
• Wait for the Corps to rule on the requests for water from Lake Ouachita and, if approved, build a treatment plant closer to Lake Ouachita.
• Do not refuse permits for businesses just because they are proposed to be located outside the city limits, especially when water usage is at a seven-year low.
This plan is consistent with the city's Resolution 7624 dated June 7, 2011, whereas the Lake DeGray plan is not. Note also that if a new 15 mgd treatment plant southeast of Hot Springs is built and losses are not reduced, a maximum of 65 percent of the 15 (9.75) mgd from the new treatment plant could actually be billed.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Varhalla
Engineer, retired; JP District 8
Hot Springs
Editorial on 09/21/2014