COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL JUNE 20, 2018
EPUD
from A1
77 percent of customers who
have seen a rate decrease from
tiered rates. On the other hand,
we need to address the valid
concerns of customers hard hit
by the third-tier rate,” said Kev-
in Parrish, EPUD board presi-
ADVISORY from A1
draw in-home water directly
from the aff ected area use an
alternative water source due
to the inability of private treat-
ment systems to remove algae
toxins.
Public treatment water sys-
tems, according to OHA, can
reduce the toxin through prop-
er fi ltration and disinfection.
Th e Cottage Grove City man-
ager’s offi ce referred questions
to the Row River water treat-
10A
dent.
In a statement released on
Th ursday, the utility said it
planned “intensive outreach” to
customers who are impacted by
the third-tier price tag.
Under the tiered-rate system,
customers who use between
one and 600 kilowatt hours are
charged .069 cents per kilowatt
hour. Th ose who use between
601 kWh and 1,800 kWh are
charged .0796 cents, equiv-
alent to EPUD’s fl at rate in
2017. Th ose who use more than
1,8001 kWh pay .1089 cents.
Earlier this year, EPUD pub-
lic relations coordinator Pat-
ty Jo Angelini noted that the
tiered-rate system was part of a
larger eff ort to encourage ener-
gy conservation and that EPUD
had several programs in place
to help customers contend with
higher bills during the winter
months.
She also noted that the tiered-
rate system was not the sole
cause of jumps in bills during
the winter months stating that
bills always show an increase
during the winter as customers
being using their heating sys-
tems — some of which she said
were ineffi cient.
“We want to know what we
can do as a utility to help our
customers use less energy,” Par-
rish said in the statement. “Es-
pecially in the winter, and avoid
higher bills.”
According to EPUD, the de-
cision to continue the tiered-
rate system followed discussion
between the board, staff and a
citizen advisory committee that
met twice prior to providing a
recommendation to the board
of directors.
ment facility’s superintendent
Ray Pardee.
“Drinking water is safe,”
Pardee said. “We are testing the
water that we bring to the water
treatment plant from the Row
River that comes from Dorena
Reservoir and the tests we have
done so far have not detected
any of the toxins the bloom
could produce.”
Recreational visitors were
advised to be alert and to avoid
areas with visible scum that
appears foamy, thick or that
is pea-green, blue-green or
brownish-red in color.
“People should avoid swim-
ming and high-speed water ac-
tivities such as water skiing or
power boating, in areas where
blooms are identifi ed.
Although toxins are not ab-
sorbed through the skin, peo-
ple who have skin sensitivities
may experience a puff y red rash
at the aff ected area,” the press
release read.
Offi cials also advised that
individuals not drink water di-
rectly from Dorena Reservoir
or eat fresh fi sh caught in its
waters.
During the June 11 city coun-
cil meeting, Cottage Grove City
Manager Richard Meyers told
the board that the city would
be testing water coming from
Dorena at the intake of the Row
River treatment facility every
week, citing the no-drinking
orders issued in Salem over the
last month aft er offi cials dis-
covered cyanotoxin in the pub-
lic drinking water.
Meyers informed the board
that the toxin had been found
in Dorena Reservoir in the past
and that the city was exploring
options should the algae be
detected in the city’s drinking
water due to the possibility that
the current treatment process
used at the city’s facility could
cause additional toxins to be
released from the algae if it is
present.
“I think what he’s (Meyer) re-
ferring to is the harmful bloom
cells,” Pardee said. “Th at if they
contain toxins and it enters the
intake and comes to the treat-
ment plant, we do use a process
called oxidation and it could
reputrue the intact algae cells
and if those cells contained tox-
ins, it would release the toxins
in the water and it would con-
centrate the toxin in the water.
A lot of ifs.”
Pardee said if the toxins were
detected, the treatment facility
would halt the oxidation pro-
cess and make adjustments to
the treatment process.
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To fi nd our more about adopting these pets contact
the Greenhill Humane Society, SPCA
at 541-689-1503
WAGS DOG
EMPORIUM
541-343-8801
SOUTH WILLAMETTE
VETERINARY CLINIC
541-895-5665
COAST FORK FEED CO.
106 N. 6TH ST.
541-942-8770
FORT ROCK
CONSTRUCTION
541-767-1611
FORT ROCK
CONSTRUCTION
541-767-1611
HEALTHY PET
2777 FRIENDLY ST
541-343-3411
DOGGIE DO’S &
DON’T’S
541-505-4298
OLD MILL FARM
STORE
541-942-3042
COTTAGE GROVE
SENTINEL
541-942-3325
DOGGIE DO’S &
DON’T’S
541-505-4298
SOUTH WILLAMETTE
VETERINARY CLINIC
541-895-5665
WAGS DOG
EMPORIUM
541-343-8801
OLD MILL FARM
STORE
541-942-3042
COAST FORK FEED CO.
HEALTHY PET
2777 FRIENDLY ST
541-343-3411
COTTAGE GROVE
SENTINEL
541-942-3325
106 N. 6TH ST.
541-942-8770