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Orleans City Council Discusses Possible Options For Water Service

September 27, 2022 Steve Schwaller

(Orleans)– Meeting in special session Monday evening, the Orleans City Council discussed possible options for a water supplier. The city currently receives water from the city of Spirit Lake through a contract which expires June 30th, 2023. City Attorney Don Hemphill said the city of Spirit Lake would still be willing to sell the city so-called “bulk water”, but some new stipulations would be attached, including some from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources…

“The DNR is driving some of the consideration here that we have a certified operator. They assign a number to the water system. They want to know basically who’s responsible for it and who they call if there’s a problem, or who they’re going to hear from if there’s a problem. They’re fine with this contingent with the city of Spirit Lake, but the city of Spirit Lake is not.”

Hemphill added Orleans would also be required to install three metered connection points to its system at an estimated cost of $350,000. Mayor Bill Maas said he’s trying to make sense of that…

“To me it seems rather strange that you have certified water coming out of a water plant that would get to another pipe and simply go across a city border and all of a sudden needs to be tested again.”

Orleans would also be required to contribute to future improvements to the city of Spirit Lake water treatment facility.

Council members also reviewed a proposal for service from Iowa Lakes Regional Water. It was estimated that would cost customers roughly another $30 per month per meter for the average user.

The council approved a motion to seek a formal proposal in writing from Spirit Lake to be considered along with the one from Iowa Lakes Regional Water for possible action at their October 10th meeting.

Hemphill also recommended the city hire an engineer to help in reviewing the options.

No matter what option they decide upon, several Orleans city council members said it’s obvious residents of that town will be paying much more for water in the not too distant future.

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