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John Frazer
Superintendent
Public Operations Center
347 Old Niskayuna Road
Latham, NY 12110-2290
Introduction
to Department of Public Works, Division of Latham Water
 The Town of Colonie
Department of Public Works, Division of Latham Water, provides
safe drinking water and water for fire protection to 76,000 Town
of Colonie residents, except the Village of Menands and Maplewood
areas. We are responsible for the treatment and distribution
of water, installing and maintaining fire hydrants for fire protection,
and maintaining water mains and valves.
The Division of Latham Water is comprised of more
than 60 employees, with the main office and garage located at the Public
Operation Center, 347 Old Niskayuna Road; water treatment plant and
laboratory on the Mohawk River and Stony Creek Reservoir in Clifton
Park.
General Description
The Latham Water District was created in 1929 to serve the residents
of Latham, New York. A few drilled wells were pumped directly into a
distribution system constructed of unlined cast iron pipes. Over the
years, the Latham Water District has grown into a complex water supply
utility serving over 76,000 residential customers as well as numerous
commercial and industrial users. Three different raw water sources are
pumped to the Mohawk View Water Treatment Plant where chemical and physical
treatment takes place. The quality of our sources before treatment is
good, and the treatment plant finishes the job by removing any solids,
metals (primarily iron and manganese), color-producing compounds or
other organic and inorganic compounds. At the treatment plant, we continuously
monitor the clarity and disinfectant level to guarantee the bacteriological
safety of the water. Chemical treatment consists of oxidation, coagulation,
chlorination and pH adjustment. Physical treatment consists of aeration,
flocculation, settling and filtration. Finished water is pumped to the
distribution system and is stored in eleven (11) steel storage vessels
located throughout the Town.
REGULATIONS FOR LIMITATION OF WATER USAGE
The expansion of the Water Treatment Plant should reduce the likelihood for restrictions in the future.
Raw Water Sources
Latham's raw water sources are the Mohawk River, Stony Creek Reservoir,
and five (5) wells located on Onderdonk Avenue. Choosing which raw water
source or which combinations of sources are used is based on a number
of factors - time of the year, raw water quality and the estimated demand.
From October through April flows average 8.5 million gallons
per day (MGD). During the spring and fall, a combination of all sources as the demand and availability of the
source dictates. The "summer" operation consists of an almost
exclusive use of the river, with some of the other sources blended. Flows
at this time are as high as 22 MGD.
Water Conservation
Hints
Latham Water District customers are urged to conserve water whenever
possible, but especially during our high demand periods. The
best way to help us conserve water is to minimize (or even eliminate!)
any outside water use from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Our customers
with automatic lawn sprinklers can help us by adjusting their
timers to this schedule and by installing moisture sensors. Some
other suggestions for conserving water are:
- CHECKING and
REPAIRING all leaks! - Toilets, faucets and garden hose spigots.
- Installing water-saving
plumbing fixtures such as low-flow shower heads and water saving toilets.
- Covering pools
to reduce evaporation.
- Using a broom,
instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
- Washing only
full loads of laundry and dishes.
- Turning off the
water when shaving or brushing your teeth.
- Keep drinking
water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until
the water is cool.
- Water lawns and
landscaping during the morning or evening to avoid excess evaporation.
Use mulch around shrubs to save moisture. Use drought-tolerant and
native plants.
- Automatic landscape
irrigation systems are a home's biggest water user. To make sure you're
not over watering, adjust your irrigation controller at least once
a month to account for changes in the weather and install a rain shutoff
device, soil moisture sensor, or humidity sensor to better control
irrigation.
Water Usage and
Charges
Latham Water has raised water rates from $1.40/1000 gallons in 2005 to $2.00/1000 gallons beginning with the first billing of 2006. There were many external factors that necessitated this rate increase as outlined here.
1. The cost of electricity has increased substantially in recent months. The cost to buy 1 kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity went up from $0.058/kWh in August 2004 to about $0.12/kWh in September 2005. We used more than 8.5 million kilowatt-hours to treat and deliver drinking water to our customers in 2005. 
2.The cost of natural gas has also increased substantially in the last year and a half. The cost to buy one therm of gas has gone from $0.635/therm in September 2004 to $1.258/therm in September 2005. We used 54,062 therms in 2005 to heat the treatment plant.
3. Chemical costs have also increased as a result of higher energy costs. Higher fuel costs affect not only the cost to deliver the chemicals to Latham Water but also the cost to manufacture the various chemicals we use.
4. In September 2004, Latham Water had to add additional chemicals to the treatment process to remove the organic matter that causes trihalomethanes. We now add sulfuric acid to reduce the pH of the raw water so more of the organic material can be removed. Since we are lowering the pH, we have to add more caustic soda to bring the pH back up to the desired pH. In 2004 we spent $55,098 on Caustic Soda and in 2005 we spent $248,264, an increase of $193,166. In 2005 we spent more than $118,665 on Sulfuric Acid. Prior to September 2004 we spent $0 on Sulfuric acid.
5. Due to the recent expansion of the district's Mohawk View Water Treatment Plant, operating costs have increased. There are more electric motors, lights, chemicals and heated spaces being used to operate the plant. In 2004 we used 5.6 million kWh to operate the plant while in 2005 we used 6.2 million kWh. This reflects a 10% increase. So not only are we spending more per kilowatt-hour but we are using more of them to deliver our water.
6. State Retirement System contributions increased 10-fold between 2001 and 2005. Latham Water accounts for about 8.5% of the Town's workforce so we are responsible to pay 8.5% of this increase.
7. Healthcare benefits will increase from $3.4 million in 2001 to an expected $4.7 million in 2006. Again, Latham Water is responsible to cover about 8.5% of these costs
Frequent Questions
Q: Why did the water rate increase 60 cents?
A: We have continually worked to keep the cost of our water as low as possible for as long as possible while providing exceptional service to our residents. Due to external factors such as natural gas price increases and substantial rises in treatment costs and distribution costs we need to stay proactive and raise the rates.
Q: Were residents notified of the rate increase?
A: Yes. The rate increase has been identified many times since October of 2005. The Town Supervisor in her letter to all Town of Colonie taxpayers that was posted on the Town's website, identified the rate increase specifically. In addition, there have been many articles in the Times Union and Spotlight newspapers regarding the Town budget including the water rate increase. The rate increase was also part the Town's proposed budget that was available to the public in October 2005 and discussed in public hearings in October and November.
Q: What measures are being taken to minimize the increase?
A: We will be purchasing large equipment (valued at over $5,000) totaling only $58,000 in 2006. In a typical year our total equipment purchase could be more than $220,000.
Q: How does this rate compare to other communities?
A: Rates vary from a low of $1.65/1000 gallons in the Town of Niskayuna to a high of $4.12/100 0 gallons in the Town of Bethlehem (for water used over 4,990 gallon/quarter). The total cost of water (water bill plus water district charge on property tax bill) to a residential user in the Latham Water District will be, assuming a $200,000 property assessment and 80,000 gallons average water usage, $270.82 in 2006. This compares to a range of from $193.00 (Niskayuna) to $485.45 ( Bethlehem ) across ten Capital Region communities including Albany, Troy, Malta, Bethlehem, Clifton Park, Guilderland, Village of Colonie, Cohoes, Watervliet and Niskayuna .
Water Quality
The quality of water provided to our customers is high. With
the exception of water main construction or repair, few customer
complaints are received. Even so, New York State law now requires
all water suppliers to notify their customers about the risks
of cryptosporidosis and giardiasis.
Cryptosporidosis and giardiasis are intestinal
illnesses caused by microscopic parasites. Cryptosporidosis can
be very serious for chemotherapy, dialysis or transplant patients,
or people with Crohn's disease, HIV infection, or otherwise weakened
immune systems. People with weakened immune systems should discuss
with their health care provider the need to take extra precautions
such as boiling water, using a certified bottled water or a specially
approved home filter. Individuals who think they may have cryptosporidosis
or giardiasis should contact their health care provider immediately.
For additional information on cryptosporidosis and giardiasis,
please contact the Albany County Health Department at (518) 447-4620.
To view Latham Water Department's 2007 Annual
Water Quality Report, click here.
For access to websites mentioned in the report, click on the links below:
www.awwa.org
www.drinktap.org/consumerdnn
Note: The 2007
Annual Water Quality Report is in Adobe Acrobat format. You can click the
logo to the right to download the program -- there is no charge for
it.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Why does the water smell like Chlorine?
Latham Water adds chlorine to the finished water as a disinfectant,
as required by NYS Department of Health. Concentration of chlorine
vary throughout the Town, depending on location, water temperature
and seasonal variations.
2) Why do I have low water pressure?
There are several reasons for low pressure including water main
breaks or internal home plumbing problems. If you do experience
low pressure call Latham Water (518) 783-2750 and we will help to determine
the cause.
3) Why do I have discolored water?
Discoloration of water can result from many reasons: Red or rust
color could result from a water main break or from an open fire
hydrant in your neighborhood. Milky water could be the result
of additional air within the water system, from a water main
break or other system shut down. Internal plumbing and fixtures
can also discolor the water.
4) I have a leak in my house or service
line - Can Latham Water help?
Yes - Call (518) 783-2750 - If we are unable to satisfy your inquiry
over the telephone, personnel will be sent to investigate your
problem.
5) Is the water fluoridated?
We do not add fluoride to our water, however, there is a trace of fluoride
in the District's source water.
6) When are the water bills mailed
out? Average water usage per family?
Bills are mailed out semi-annually:
|
North section |
Blue
Bill
|
February
and August |
|
Central section |
Pink
Bill
|
March
and September |
|
South section |
Green
Bill
|
April
and October |
An average family uses approximately 80,000 gallons
of water with charges of $160.00.
7) How does Latham Water transfer
ownership of property from one owner to another?
A final meter reading is taken or through property transfer-deed from
the Assessor's office. A final meter reading should be requested by
telephone by the seller or purchaser's attorney.
How to Contact
Latham Water
Mailing Address:
Public Operations Center
347 Old Niskayuna Road
Latham, NY 12110-2290
Phone Number: (518) 783-2750
Fax Number: (518) 786-7320
E-Mail: LWD@colonie.org
URL: http://www.colonie.org/lathamwater/
Last Updated 01/31/08
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