Regarding Water Rates
By Jim Leggieri, General Manager
As you are aware, the Corporation recently implemented a new rate schedule for its members/customers. As a result, we would like to offer the following information as a supplement to the notification you recently received through the mail regarding the new rates.

• Currently, Bartonville WSC operates and maintains seven (7) separate well/pump stations within its twenty-five (25) square mile service area.
• The source of water at these pump stations is produced from wells. In addition, Bartonville Water Supply Corporation has available one (1) MG/D (million gallons per day) of treated surface water from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District (UTRWD) as a supplement to this well production.
• However, the need for upgrading facilities and securing additional sources of water is ongoing.
• One of the important responsibilities of the Corporation is to develop long range plans and strategies for meeting the water needs of you, our Customers. As a result of previous planning, all of the mentioned facilities, as well as the recently constructed Capital Improvements and those now underway were designed to meet not only Texas Commission on Environmental Qualty regulatory requirements but also daily/seasonal peak demands placed on our system.
• Meeting high seasonal demands, especially those occurring in the months of May - Sept. create the need for the great majority of these improvements. During the hot Texas summer, the majority of water produced goes toward landscape irrigation and other outdoor activities occurring throughout our service area. If it were not for these seasonal peaks, our existing production/distribution facilities could be reduced significantly and the need for future improvements limited.
• An example of this difference would be a comparison between gallons of water pumped/distributed system wide for the months of January-April 98 (63,021,600 gallons) as opposed to May-August 98 (205,148,760 gallons). As you can see, seasonal summer demands can vary as much as three (3) times that of off-season needs.
• Although the summer of 1998 was one for the record books, a water utility must have facilities in place and water available to meet all demand levels, even periodic extremes. Over the past two (2) years, Bartonville Water Supply Corporation has constructed approximately $2.2 million in Capital Improvements with an additional approximately $2.1 million now under construction and slated for completion by the summer of 1999. All of these improvements are necessary to provide the best possible level of service for our customers.
• In addition to meeting current demands, Bartonville Water Supply Corporation is working closely with the Upper Trinity Regional Water District and its members by participating in long term projects and planning that will secure the water necessary to meet future demands.

As a result, when meeting the expense needs of these Improvements Bartonville Water Supply Corporation must depend solely upon its water rates and related fees to secure needed revenues. Bartonville Water Supply Corporation is a non-profit water supply corporation and cannot raise/levy taxes like municipal utilities to defray expenses. The Bartonville Water Supply Corporation Board of Directors and Staff evaluate expenses annually and adjust rates accordingly with every attempt being made to keep rates as low as possible for our members. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the office at (817) 430-3541.

Bank Draft and Credit Card Payment
We would like to remind our members of payment options involving Credit Cards and Bank Drafting. If you have any questions please call the office. We would also like to remind everybody on credit card payment to check their expiration dates on the card chosen for payment. As stated in the Credit Card Preauthorization policy "Failure (Declining charges) of a Preauthorized credit card charge will constitute the implementation of the Corporation's "Insufficient Funds (NSF) Policy"; the Member or Customer will be notified by mail of insufficient funds and the Member's or Customer's account will be assessed a $15.00 NSF Charge and the attempted credit card transaction will be reapplied to the Members or Customers account by the Corporation's Utility Billing Department". We adhere to this policy strictly. Please visit our website under index to retrieve the applicable forms or call the office.

We Hit the Highway!!!
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation is finally on the Internet. You can find all the forms that we use on our website at http://surf.to/bwsc. Please check out our website for the latest information relating to water conservation, water conservation stage levels, Board Meeting information and other notifications. Don't forget to bookmark the site to give yourself easy access to important information relating to your water needs. Give us feedback and help us further meet your needs using the information highway. Surfs up!!!

Bartonville WSC Completes Lead/Copper Testing
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation completed its Lead/Copper Sampling in September as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualty. Twenty water samples were collected from locations system wide and tested to determine if higher than normal levels of Lead/Copper were present in the water. The tests were conducted by the Texas Department of Health Laboratory in Austin. None of the test results from samples collected system wide were above recommended levels for Lead/Copper.

MAIL DELIVERY PROBLEMS!
We are still receiving a number of customer complaints regarding the failure of the postal service to deliver Bartonville Water Supply Corporation's water bills. Again, Bartonville Water Supply Corporation mails its water bills directly from the Lewisville Post Office regularly each month between the 20th and 24th. If you do not receive a bill by the first of any month, it is your responsibility to notify the Corporation office since we can only assume that your water bill has been delivered by the Post Office.

Capital Projects Update
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation's new 2 Million Gallon ground storage tank located at the Copper Hill pump station is now complete. Once the remaining new piping, electrical controls and large capacity booster pumps are installed the tank can be filled with water and placed into service. This pump station will be Bartonville Water Supply Corporation's largest as well as our receiving point for 1 Million Gallons per day of surface water from the Upper Trinity Regional Water District. In addition to these improvements, we will also be installing a diesel powered auxiliary generator at this pump station. In the event of an interruption in the electrical power supply to this pump station for any reason, even an unforeseen Y2K (Year 2000) problem, water service will continue uninterrupted until normal service is restored.
All of the above projects, as well as the installation of a telemetry system and upgrades at all six (6) remaining pump stations are scheduled for completion in the spring of 1999.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to call the office.

Bartonville WSC Participates in Vinyl Chloride Study
Bartonville Water Supply Corporation recently volunteered to participate in the Texas Commission on Environmental Qualty's vinyl chloride study. This study was the result of high levels of vinyl chloride that were found in a large rural water system in Kansas. As a result, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asked States to conduct monitoring studies. Unbound vinyl chloride is found in some PVC pipe manufactured before 1977 and may leach out under temperatures greater than 50° F where lengths of pipe are exposed to water under low flow conditions.

Bartonville Water Supply Corporation along with 17 other water systems throughout the State participated in the study. Four water systems sampled were positive for vinyl chloride; however, no vinyl chloride was found at any of the Bartonville Water Supply Corporation sampling sites.

COLD WEATHER PRECAUTIONS
Cold weather will soon be upon us and with it, the threat of freezing temperatures.

Insurance industry sources believe Texas insurance rates would be cut about 18%, or $130 for the average homeowner's policy, if homeowners would protect their pipes and prevent water damage and loss.

Here are a number of precautions you can take to guard against water loss resulting from the affects of freezing temperatures. (1) Insulate all outside faucets, especially those with a northern exposure. (2) Drain irrigation systems to prevent damage. (3) Insulate all above ground piping that remains in service during the winter, e.g. hydrants for livestock watering. It is also a good idea to protect these from the animals themselves, especially the horses. (4) Place a strip of insulating material inside your meter box positioning it to cover the meter itself. Make sure to replace your lid securely. If your meter box lid is missing, please call the office. (5) When leaving town for the Holidays, please check the extended forecast. If extremely cold temperatures are predicted, have a neighbor check your home occasionally for possible problems. In case of emergency, know where your water shut-off is located and have it accessible. It is recommended to find the meter shut-off and explain to all responsible household residents the process of shutting water off in case of an emergency.

The Argyle Volunteer Fire District is in desperate need of additional Volunteers. For more information and explanations, please call:
Fire Chief: Ed Klir (940) 464-7102
Asst. Chief: James Price (817) 430-1116

Water Payment Drop
Annemarie Moore, Town Secretary for the Town of Bartonville contacted us recently regarding a number of water payments that have been mistakenly placed in the Town's drop box at 1941 E. Jeter Rd.
Although the additional income would be nice, Annemarie asked us to remind all Bartonville Water Supply Corporation customers that the Corporation office is the next driveway west of the Town Hall. Bartonville Water Supply Corporation is at 1911 E. Jeter Rd. and has the free standing, tan drop box located by the front entryway.

Water Conservation Tip
With temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, thoughts of landscape planting are probably far from the top of our list of things to do; however, when considering landscape additions, please consider a xeriscape landscape. By using "water stingy" plants, we can reduce both amounts of water needed for landscaping and the accompanying higher bill. Please contact our office or our web site for more information on this popular form of attractive water conservation.

If you have suggestions for future articles please let us know at the office or e-mail us at bwsc-jml@swbell.net!