Fact, not Agenda…How water availability and budget
shortfalls have created the perfect storm.
http://www.biscoeforphilomath.com
Since the early 1990s, Philomath residents, Planning
Commissioners and Chamber of Commerce members were sounding the warnings on
limited water resources for Philomath, and urging for sustainable and managed
growth to preserve water for the future residents of Philomath….whether by
neglect or intent, our City leaders have failed to take heed, continuing to
approve tremendous levels of development while limiting budget planning for
needed water infrastructure.
Fast forward to 2018, when the City of Philomath formally adopted the updated Water System Master Plan. Already countless development proposals and new development had been approved over the years, including the massive BLVD apartment complex, with no water criteria development guidelines established in the Municipal Code to consider water availability and infrastructure to support these developments pouring into Philomath.
The most recent and most sizable development proposals, the Beelart Annexation on No. 12th Street and the Lepman Master Planned Development were met with testimony after testimony before the City Council, pleading with them to recognize the peril of the water crisis in Philomath from the impacts of global climate change, overuse of the Mary’ River, high water usage developments and expected increased usage of Corvallis’ upstream water rights.
Already experiencing a trend in water shortages, according
to the Regional Water Master at the 2019 Water Forum, water usage in Philomath was
set to be restricted by the OWRD in 2015. Water flows were too diminished in Mary’s
River to provide adequate flows to senior water users and Philomath was on the
chopping block. A last-minute rain event, saved the day. This was at approximately
4500 residents and before almost 1000 new water users had been approved by the
City Council for development.
Review of Philomath’s Water System Master Plan, based on
data preceeding 2018, shows that with limited water flows in the Mary’s River
during our driest months of August and September, and inadequate fire
suppression infrastructures, there may
not be even enough water available for firefighting capacity in the case of a
large fire event like those experienced recently by our neighboring
communities.
Remarkably, City of Philomath staff and the City Council of
past and present has been made aware of our limited water resources, by experts
and reports, and yet the public outcry about the water crisis goes unanswered,
while development planning pushes on.
Philomath’s water availability emergency has only been magnified by the unsurmountable cost burden of securing future water for all residents in Philomath. With the increasing costs for the new Water Treatment Plant and the needed upgrades for redundancies of fire protections, the price tag has now exceeded a whopping $16 million. These costs will be leveraged against the paying water users in Philomath, although disproportionately, as the large apartment complexes and the recently approved RV Park developments will pay reduced water rates, limiting their obligation to pay their fair share for these upgrades, and increasing the cost burden to Philomath residents.
Consider these statements from Philomath’s officially adopted 2018 Water System Master Plan, written by experts and contracted by the City of Philomath (page references included):
"During the summer months, the Mary’s River is over-appropriated and no new water rights are likely to be available. Ground water resources are similarly limited and if it is not impossible to get new rights now, it eventually will be." (P. 6-2)
"the maximum day demand will exceed the sum of the bottom three water rights by about 2025."
…the City may need to curtail water usage during dry weather periods in the coming years." (p.6-2 WSMP)
"The frequency of curtailment is expected to increase, over the years as population and water usage increase." (p. 6-2 WSMP)
"Regarding Neabeack Hill Fire Pump Station; There is no back-up power system. Therefore, it would not be possible to meet fire demands in the event of a power failure." (p. 4-13 WSMP)
"Some portions of the system do not have the capacity to deliver required fire flows while maintaining the obligatory 20psi residual pressure at all service connections." (P. 4-11)
"Most of the year there is sufficient water in the Mary’s River to supply all of the City’s current Water Demands. However, river flows in the late summer during dry years can become very low." There are many claims for river water for irrigation and other uses. Together these claims are GREATER THAN THE AVAILABLE WATER DURING SOME LOW FLOW PERIODS. (P. 4-5)
The Philomath Fire District recently reached out about recently published concerns regarding water, and they have affirmed that current fire hydrant pressures meet compliance with State requirements. However, this is not a statement to the Fire Districts compliance at the hydrants, this is about the state of the City regarding known deficiencies in water infrastructure and the funding needed to correct these deficiencies. The water experts in this case, Westech Engineering, have stated their position, and bolstering fire protections are a necessity in order to increase protection to our city. These facts have remained undisputed by the City and by the state courts.
It’s time for change Philomath, before we turn on our water faucets and nothing comes out.
When you cast your vote for City Council, look closely at the record of your past and present Philomath leaders. Unprecedented development pressures amidst documented water shortages have put the future of Philomath at risk. With Philomath already pushing close to 5500 residents, are water curtailments and restrictions just around the corner?…read it for yourself…the experts have made their case.
Fact Checkers? Look here: City of Philomath Water System Master Plan
(Note: If this link has become inactive, request location of this public document from the City)
