LEGISLATION FOR CLEAN WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM FILED TODAY
Mayor says investment necessary to ensure safe, clean water
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 6, 2009) -
Legislation was filed today for the proposed Clean Water Infrastructure Program (CWIP) in Metro Water Services. The ordinance adjusts water and sewer rates over a three-year period and creates a stormwater management program.
CWIP was presented to the Metro Council last night in a special called meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee. The rate adjustments will fund a five-year capital improvement plan, which will upgrade Nashville’s aging water infrastructure to meet increased demands on the system and stricter federal regulations.
Mayor Karl Dean discussed CWIP today at a media event at the Omohundro Water Treatment Plant. Omohundro, which is listed on the Nashville Register of Historic Places, was the first water treatment plant in Nashville and still has many working components from the 19th century.
“I fully recognize this is not an ideal time to be asking our citizens to pay more for anything. If I felt this was something we could put off, or not do altogether, we would not be proposing this program,” Dean said.
“Demand on our aging water and sewer systems has gone up 30 percent over the last decade while rates have remained constant. We must invest in our infrastructure to protect our environment, and ensure safe, clean drinking water for our citizens now and in the future.”
The first of three Council meetings to consider the CWIP ordinance will be on Feb. 17. If Council approves the program, water and sewer rate adjustments will take effect on May 1 with stormwater fees beginning July 1. Capital projects related to the CWIP program would begin as early as July 1.
More information on CWIP can be found at www.nashville.gov/water/cwip.
For media inquiries contact:
Janel Lacy
(615) 862-6020
janel.lacy@nashville.gov