West Milton Wonders About Water
Village Council Will Study New Water Regionalization Options
West Milton, like many communities in the Miami Valley region, is grappling with the complex challenges of managing its public water and sanitary sewer services, which is one of the most critical services any community can offer to its businesses and residents.
Currently, West Milton receives its water from the City of Troy, in an arrangement that began about twenty years ago when West Milton closed its own water treatment facility. This decision was part of a larger trend where smaller communities seek to achieve economies of scale by partnering with larger water providers. However, this arrangement comes with its own set of challenges.
A 2022 study by the City of Piqua revealed significant variations in water costs across local municipalities. West Milton's monthly water cost stands at $58, which is considerably higher than some neighboring communities. For comparison, Troy, the source of West Milton's water, charges $45 per month, while Union, a growing community in Montgomery County, offers the lowest rate at $21 per month.
The cost disparity is partly due to a 10% surcharge that West Milton customers pay for water from Troy. This surcharge has been a point of contention, with Miami County Commissioner Ted Mercer expressing concern in a meeting earlier this year stated, "I don't pay for the City of Troy to have a big savings account. I pay for quality service." This sentiment underscores the tension between water providers and their customer communities.
Adding to these concerns, West Milton remains responsible for its own utility metering, billing, and infrastructure maintenance. This means that while Troy provides the water, West Milton must handle all other aspects of water service, including repairing any breaks in the local water mains. This division of responsibilities contributes to higher costs for West Milton residents.
Recognizing these challenges, West Milton is exploring options to reduce water costs for its customers. The West Milton Village Council, during their December 10th meeting, approved Resolution CM-24-53, authorizing a comprehensive water and wastewater regionalization study. This study, to be conducted by DLZ Ohio Incorporated, will explore up to three options for water and wastewater regionalization, with a total cost not exceeding $60,000.
The study is partly motivated by the need for a new wastewater treatment plant and the desire to explore all possible funding avenues. It's designed to meet the requirements of both the USDA and Ohio EPA, potentially positioning West Milton to secure funding for future infrastructure projects from these agencies. Laying this groundwork now demonstrates the town's commitment to long-term planning and financial responsibility in managing its water and wastewater infrastructure.
West Milton's exploration of regionalization options aligns with broader trends in municipal water management. As smaller water facilities become less viable, and larger communities expand their services, water provision is increasingly becoming regionalized. This shift is prompting communities to reconsider their relationships with neighboring municipalities.
One potential option for West Milton is to explore a partnership with Union. Union's low water rates and existing infrastructure make it an attractive alternative to Troy. As West Milton Village Manager Jeff Sheridan noted in a meeting with the Board of County Commissioners earlier this year, "We wish we were treated more like a partner rather than just another customer." This statement reflects the desire for more collaborative relationships in water provision.
However, large-scale water regionalization in Miami County faces obstacles. The City of Piqua's decision to build its own $40 million water plant in 2017 demonstrates the challenges of coordinating water resources among multiple communities. Past conversations between Troy and Piqua about sharing water resources highlight the difficulty in distinguishing between true partnerships and mere customer-provider relationships.
As West Milton continues to grow, its position in the regional water landscape becomes increasingly significant. The town now has options that didn't exist in the past, potentially allowing it to negotiate more favorable terms for its water supply. This new survey will help further define these options and determine the feasibility of these new alternatives moving into the future.
The coming years will likely see continued evolution in water infrastructure management as communities strive to balance cost-effectiveness, quality of service, and long-term sustainability. West Milton's proactive approach to exploring regionalization options and seeking funding for infrastructure improvements positions it well to navigate these challenges. As water remains a critical public utility, the decisions made by West Milton and other communities in the region will play a crucial role in shaping the future of water provision here in Miami County.
What Do You Think?
Today, we talked about West Milton, let us know what you think about the community and some of the good things happening in the southwest part of our county! Our paid subscribers are more than welcome to leave their ideas and insights in the comment section.
Check out our New YouTube Channel!
Civic Capacity now has a YouTube Channel which is designed to be a centralized location for local government meetings throughout Miami County. You can check out the channel here!
The channel has a couple of new videos that our readers may want to check out.
December 11, 2024: Troy Planning Commission
The planning commission heard a presentation from American Structurepoint on the city’s proposed Unified Development Code that is under development.
December 11, 2024: Troy Human Relations Commission
This was the final meeting of Troy’s HRC for the year.
A New Way to Support This Work
Our readers and subscribers have been asking for a new way to support the work being done here at Civic Capacity! Some of our readers do not like the idea of having to sign up for another subscription service. Some of our subscribers occasionally want to give more support through a one-time transaction.
Civic Capacity is partnering with “Buy Me A Coffee” to give our readers, subscribers and friends an opportunity to give one-time support to Civic Capacity. Personally, I don’t like coffee, but I will never turn down a nice iced tea. If you feel compelled to support this effort, just click the button below.
A Huge Thanks to our reader, Mike, from Piqua, who provided me with a nice iced tea today! Thank you!
Thanks for reading today’s Civic Capacity Newsletter! Please feel free to share this information with your friends and neighbors.
Also, please consider subscribing to our work. If you are a free subscriber, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. For less than $1 a week, you can get timely and conversational updates about the decisions that are impacting you and your community!