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Finley Valley Water System
PHASE I IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOW COMPLETE!!
Click Here for a Map of the Improvements
Thank you all for your patience and understanding while our crew worked with our contractors to make these much needed improvements. For a draft of the letter that was sent to all those living in Finley Valley, please click Here.
PHASE II PRELIMINARY PLANS / CONCEPT Plans!
Click Here
The City of Ozark would like to thank all the residents serviced by the Finley Valley Water System that attended the informational meeting on September 14, 2017. We certainly understand your interest in the future of this water system and how it will affect you moving forward. It is natural for you to have questions and the City of Ozark wishes to answer any and all questions you may have. However, because there are numerous questions from various households we feel the best and most effective way of communicating is through this dedicated web page. Please direct any and all questions you may have to the email address below so that we may conduct the necessary research and provide you with the most accurate information available. We assume the Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) page will continue to be updated as more questions come in, so you may want to revisit it from time to time to see if new information has been added. Again, we appreciate your interest in this matter and hope to soon take the necessary steps that will serve as the beginning of a sustainable water service plan for your area.
Brief History:
On June 21, 1995, Finley Valley Water Company (a private entity) filed an application requesting authority to sell and transfer all of its corporate stock and its franchise, works or system, to the Public Funding Corporation of the City of Ozark (a public entity). At the same time the applicant requested an order authorizing and permitting it to discontinue providing service in its service area as of the date of the potential sale and transfer. On January 5th, 1996, the sale and transfer of the Finley Valley Water Company system to the Ozark Public Funding Corporation was approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC). At the time of transfer the Finley Valley Subdivision consisted of approximately 180 residential dwelling units. Although purchased by the Ozark Public Funding Corporation (PFC), it was recognized by the PSC that the system would be maintained and operated by the City of Ozark whom would also handle the billing of water customers.
The Finley Valley Water System is comprised of 7 subdivisions
These subdivisions consist of:
- Combs Addition with 14 lots,
- Finley Valley 64 lots,
- Finley River Estates 24 lots,
- Irish Hills Subdivision 34 lots,
- Meadow Ridge Phases 1, 2 and 3 with 75 lots,
- Woodmont Meadows 33 lots and
- Woodmont Meadows 1st Addition with 20 lots
Why do we need upgrades to the system?
In 2011 the City of Ozark had Olsson & Associates study our water system as a whole and they came up with a Water System Facility Plan. The purpose of this plan was to serve as a planning guide for the City. This report summarizes existing water system facilities, infrastructure and operation, historical water customers and demands, projects customer growth and consumption throughout the planning period, and proposes system improvements associated with the City’s water supply, treatment pumping, storage, and distribution system to meet the projected water demands. As a result of this study the DNR found that several water system upgrades were necessary. This required the City of Ozark to borrow approximately $12M to pay for these improvements, as well as identify the revenue source that would be used to pay back the $12M bond debt. As this is a large capital improvement project additional revenue was necessary to adequately guarantee that the bond debt would be paid. Therefore, the Ozark Board of Aldermen had to pass water rate increases for all Ozark Water Customers, except those within the Finley Valley area, beginning back in 2012. The last increase associated with these improvements was implemented in 2015.
Can the existing lines handle the pressure?
The water system consists of class 200 SDR21 pipe in 3 different sizes, 2”, 4” and 6”. This means these mains are capable of handling the increased pressure.
Some of the Finley River Estates lots will require either individual pressure regulators or a larger pressure regulator installed on the main. This will be determined at a later date when plans are finalized.
What about fire hydrants?
Fire hydrants will be installed when the line sizes are upgraded. This project will be determined at a later date.
What is the entire plan to replace the existing system?
What are the specifics of the 2 wells and tanks as to what it can produce?
How much water is being used?
1,196,887.50 gallons per month for 2017
What is the water loss?
Water loss is about 10%
Frequently Asked Questions / Fact Sheets / Historical Data:
Additional Comments / Links:
Some residents have voiced concerns about the 2 wells located within the subdivision. The wells are still productive wells, the primary reason why the city wants to do away with the Finley Valley Water System wells is due to escalating maintenance costs and potential leaching of septic systems into the relatively shallow aquifer that provide the water to those wells.
Over the past 4 years, 2 septic systems in the subdivision have had to obtain variances to complete repairs to their septic systems. The variances were granted by the Christian County Health Department due to the proximity to the water mains and wells.
Public Service Commission Staff Recommendation
Customers with questions please click here to send an EMAIL