Medina Co/Northwest PWS

Wadsworth draws its municipal water from 11 different wells throughout the city, including the newer well in Chippewa. Seven wells are deep rock formations located in the southeast corner between Wide Street and Manley Road, while four are sand and gravel wells in the southwest near soccer fields and the airport. The Chippewa well, a sand and gravel source, began service in August 2012.

Medina County acquires water from Wadsworth waterlines at the SR 94 city limits and distributes it through County-owned mains. For questions about your water quality, please contact Dave Ling, Water Distribution Systems Supervisor, at (330)723-9585.

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
The Medina County Board of Commissioners holds regular meetings every Tuesday at 9:30 am at the County Administration Building, 144 N. Broadway, Medina. Meeting information is available on the Medina County Calendar at http://www.co.medina.oh.us/calendar.html. Public water concerns can also be addressed to Medina County Sanitary Engineer's Superintendent of Treatment, Dave Bazilevich, at (330) 723-9585.

IMPORTANT HEALTH INFORMATION
Certain populations may be more vulnerable to water contaminants than the general public. People with compromised immune systems—including those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant recipients, HIV/AIDS patients, elderly individuals, and infants—may face higher infection risks. These individuals should consult their healthcare providers about municipal water consumption. Guidelines for reducing Cryptosporidium and microbial contamination risks are available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

POTENTIAL CONTAMINANTS IN WATER
The EPA establishes regulations limiting contaminant levels in public water systems, while FDA regulations set similar limits for bottled water. All water sources may contain small amounts of certain contaminants, which doesn't necessarily indicate health risks. Water sources (tap and bottled) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs and wells, which can collect natural minerals, radioactive materials, and substances from animal or human activity.

Potential contaminants include:

• Microbial Contaminants: Viruses and bacteria from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, livestock operations, or wildlife
• Inorganic Contaminants: Salts and metals occurring naturally or resulting from urban runoff, wastewater discharges, oil/gas production, mining, or farming
• Pesticides/Herbicides: From various sources including agriculture, urban runoff, and residential uses
• Organic Chemical Contaminants: Synthetic and volatile organic compounds from industrial processes, petroleum production, gas stations, urban runoff, and septic systems
• Radioactive Contaminants: Naturally occurring or resulting from oil/gas production and mining

For more information about contaminants and health effects, call the EPA's Safe Municipal Water Hotline at (800) 426-4791.

LEAD AND MUNICIPAL WATER
Elevated lead levels can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in municipal water primarily comes from materials in service lines and home plumbing. While Medina County provides quality water, it cannot control the materials used in plumbing components. When water sits for several hours, metals can leach into your water. You can minimize lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for consumption. If concerned, you can request water testing. Information about lead in water, testing methods, and steps to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Municipal Water Hotline.

Why are water rates increasing?
The combination of affordable natural gas from fracking and renewable energy adoption has reduced our revenue generation capabilities. Previously, the Sikeston Power Station's surplus revenue subsidized network costs, but with wholesale energy demand shifting toward alternative sources, this subsidy has disappeared. Meanwhile, our operational, replacement and maintenance expenses continue, requiring adequate funding to maintain reliable service to Sikeston residents.

How was the rate increase amount determined?
We engaged an independent consultant to evaluate our service costs. Their analysis indicated that a series of incremental increases is necessary to address market changes. We're implementing these increases gradually to help customers adjust to the new rate structure. After exploring numerous alternatives, rate adjustments proved to be the most viable solution.

Why weren't previous rate increases sufficient?
Earlier increases were implemented to offset coal costs, which rose by over $16 million annually starting in 2013. Now, with renewable energy popularity and lower natural gas prices, demand for BMU's power has decreased, resulting in approximately $12 million in annual revenue loss. We need to recover this lost revenue and rebuild our reserves. Even with these increases, our rates remain among the lowest statewide.

Will there be additional rate increases?
This is the first of several planned increases over coming years. We'll continue evaluating necessary adjustments annually to ensure we meet our bond covenant requirements. However, even with potential future increases, Sikeston residents will still pay less for utilities than most neighboring communities across the state.

1. What is budget billing and how do I qualify?
   Budget Billing allows customers to pay equal monthly installments based on the previous twelve months' average usage. Eligibility requires continuous service at your current address for at least one year and good payment history with BMU.
2. Is the Power Plant operation sustainable?
   All coal plants currently face uncertainties. Fortunately, our initial construction bonds will be fully paid by 2022, eliminating those debt obligations and providing flexibility in exploring operational options. Sikeston BMU remains community-driven and community-owned, and will continue operating utilities for local residents and businesses.
3. How do I contact Sikeston BMU?
   Mail: P.O. Box 370, Sikeston, MO 63801
   Phone: 573-471-3328
   Visit: 107 East Malone Avenue weekdays (8am-5pm)
   Emergency/outage reporting after hours: 573-471-1181