in other words
Voices From the Crowd: Wise Water Usage
By Bill Langmaid
The availability of water is at
the heart of what creates a place to live.
It is the reason that we build cities at the
confluences of rivers. We must have it to
survive, and we must have a lot of it to
prosper.
In Vernonia we have recently
been reading about a Water Rate Study
and proposed rate increases to our water
bills, and I’ve heard many people won-
der if the rates are in line with the actual
needs of the department. So, I did a little
digging on the subject.
First, we do have a fairly high
base rate in Vernonia. It’s not the highest,
and it does reflect the reality of our situ-
ation. The accompanying table shows
the cost of 4100 gallons/month usage
in some neighboring towns. This figure
is below the nationwide average, but so
is our per meter average. There are 757
residential meters, plus 66 commercial,
in the city. Those are the accounts which
are available to pay for the physical
plant which produces, treats, and stores
our water, plus the eventual repair and
replacement of that physical plant as it
wears out.
It’s important to note that pru-
dent fiscal manage-
ment relies on the
base rate to cover
fixed costs plus capi-
tal reserves. Usage
rates should be re-
lied upon to cover the
variable costs, like
filters and chemicals,
which change with
the volume of water
being used in the system. Things like
pumps, pipes, and even water towers
are part of the physical plant, and need
to be immediately replaceable after fail-
ure. One way to do this is by borrowing
money, but maintaining a capital project
fund might also be prudent.
Another factor that enters into
the equation is our water source. We
get our town water supply directly from
Rock Creek. This is a great quality of
water, but unfortunately the supply isn’t
consistent. Summer brings low flows,
and the occasional restrictions on usage.
Winter brings more water, but with in-
creased sediment
and the related costs
of filtering. In short,
we are limited by
the source of our
water.
The city can’t,
or shouldn’t, prom-
ise a water source
which they can’t
guarantee. We need
to know that all existing water demands
can be met before creating additional de-
mand on the system. While many people
recognize that we have an opportunity
to increase the population of Vernonia,
we have to do so wisely. This means be-
ing realistic about our ability to provide
water, and at the same time encouraging
wise water use by everyone. For one, it
saves money, but more importantly it al-
march13
2012
lows for more people to enter into the
system and share the resource.
Unfortunately, we aren’t in-
cluded in the program offered via www.
conserveh2o.org, but it seems a valuable
resource nonetheless. One glaring sta-
tistic to be found on water waste is that
older fixtures use, by design, 30% more
water than current designs. The other
that stood out was that leaks account for
almost 14% of daily water use. Elimi-
nating leaks completely isn’t cost effec-
tive, but simple things like leaky faucets
or toilets are cheap to fix, and the water
savings pay for the cost of the repair.
What does it all mean? We have
few options for reducing our individual
water bills, and it is in the city’s best in-
terest to help. Although it does reduce
income, it frees up a resource which can
be sold to someone else. And, if early
indicators bear out, we should be seeing
more people move in to Vernonia in the
coming years. With some foresight, and
good management, we’ll be ready.
County Medical Reserve Corps Celebrates Anniversary
When a nurse and member of
the Columbia County Medical Reserve
Corps (MRC), volunteered to take free
blood pressure readings at the Vernonia
Senior Center, she didn’t know that she
would save a neighbor’s life.
What she found was that one
senior citizen’s blood pressure was
dangerously high. She advised him to see
his physician without delay. As a result,
said Anne Parrott, MRC unit leader, his
medications were changed and his blood
pressure soon lowered to an acceptable
range.
This experience is more dramatic than
usual, but Columbia County’s 22 MRCs
are making a difference even as they
prepare for their roles in large scale
disasters such a mass casualty incident,
mass dispensing of shots or medications
or handling a surge of ill or infected
people into the county.
The
Federal
government
created the national system of MRC
units shortly after 9/11 to improve the
national preparation for a large scale
public health crisis. This year the
Federal program is celebrating its 10th
anniversary. Oregon began recruiting
volunteers after a Federal Mandate in
2003, and the State Emergency Registry
of Volunteers in Oregon was set up for
on-line registration. Columbia County’s
MRC unit was established in December
2006 and today is one of 15 units in
Oregon.
Parrott, who is Preparedness
Coordinator for The Public Health
Foundation of Columbia County, said
that during a Public Health emergency
the 22 members of the MRC would be
deployed wherever they are needed
most.
In 2011, MRCs assisted with
influenza vaccinations, helped school
district nurses with general health
screenings for grades K-6, staffed
Health Fair booths and First Aid
booths, and conducted blood pressure
and blood sugar screenings at senior
centers. During the Public Health H1N1
vaccination campaign, the MRCs were a
mobile unit that traveled to adult foster
homes and assisted living facilities to
provide vaccinations.
They have been trained in the
incident command system structure,
First Aid that includes a psychological
evaluation component and basic and
advanced disaster training, “all provided
under the auspices of the U.S. Surgeon
General,” said Parrott. They also
received training in how to promote
Public Health initiatives.
“This year the training for
MRCs will be focused on medical surge
and the MRC role in mass casualties,”
said Parrott. She also said that a mass
casualty, such as a large freeway pileup,
earthquake or explosion, requires
specific training for MRCs, who again
would be called on to perform specific.
But all the training and practice
is to prepare for a major incident
when our local emergency systems
are overwhelmed, and a trained corps
of nurses will save lives and ease the
burden on local services.
St. Helens MRC are Kacie Kraft,
Danielle Nelson, Cathy Weber, Robin
Loper and Tish Hora; Scappoose, Teresa
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McGivern, Carla Coler and Gayle Case;
Columbia City, Debbie Johnstone; Deer
Island Lowell Norbom; Rainier, Erin
O’Connell; Clatskanie, Marilyn Thomas
and Robin Ostoj; Vernonia, Monica
Petersen and Suzanne Paleck; Clatsop
County, Heather Bee.
Those interested in more
information can check online at
www.tphfcc.org and look under the
Preparedness section or call Parrott,
503-397-4651, ext 2022.
