Old Du Qoin Water System Users Should See Lower Bills

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Two separate water systems became one at the August 20 meeting of the Du Quoin City Council as the council agreed unanimously to accept the Old Du Quoin Water District system. By this acceptance, the city essentially acquires the Old Du Quoin system. With the merger, all system maintenance and billing will fall to the city water department.

The merger was the result of months of meetings, discussions, negotiations and documentation between the city and the Old Du Quoin Water District Board. "I think we actually started this conversation last fall," said Du Quoin water commissioner Rex Duncan. "Harold Rice called me around October and asked if the city might be interested in the system, and I told Harold I thought we would be. We've been working on it since then."

The Old Du Quoin Water District Board agreed to hand the system over to Du Quoin at no charge, but with certain assurances of respect for their customers. "We agreed that Old Du Quoin customers would be treated exactly like other Du Quoin system customers," Duncan said. "By and large, because of the rate differences between the two systems, almost all of the Old Du Quoin customers will see reductions in their monthly bills."

Built in 1971 and expanded over the years, the Old Du Quoin system is all plastic in construction. It serves many homes on Jackson Street east of the city limits, then south on the Old Du Quoin Blacktop and out to new and old Route 14. The system had previously been managed by the LD Fern Construction Company, who built the system and has managed it since it became operational in the early '70's.

Duncan is enthusiastic about the acquisition and grateful to the members of the Old Du Quoin Water District. "I feel that they have entrusted us with their system and we want to be good stewards of that system," he said. He sees long-term strategic advantages to the city owning the system. "This gives the city control of the system in a direction of growth," Duncan said. "As the community expands in those directions, we hope more customers in some of those areas might consider annexation into the city."

Rice, speaking as board president, said he supported the exchange. "I believe very sincerely that the City of Du Quoin will take good care of the system and that this was the way to go," he said. "I'm pleased that the board and the city were able to work this out and that the system we built is in good hands. Board support was unanimous, as I understand it was with the city council."

The acquisition will mean some changes for Old Du Quoin customers. Perhaps the best change will be the reduction in rates. Prior to the change, Old Du Quoin customers paid up to $9.62 per thousand gallons for the first 3,000 gallons. That rate will drop to the current rate of $5.62 per thousand gallons for users outside the city limits. Customers who average 6,000 gallons per month can expect savings of up to $147.00 per year.

Another likely benefit to Old Du Quoin customers will be access to service. The Du Quoin Water Department and billing staff are available during normal business hours at the City Clerk's office. Customers can take advantage of bill payment by personal visits to the office, by mail, or by using the after-hours drop box near the entrance to the water office. Services after hours are fee-based. The city will try to send out water bills on the same schedule as before.

Some of the other changes that can be expected include more frequent hydrant testing and system flushing. While exercising the fire hydrants is an important safety issue, parts of the system will likely be placed on boil orders due to low pressure. Flushing improves the quality of water in the system, but can also temporarily discolor the water, and laundering during flushing is not recommended. Hydrant flushing is a scheduled form of maintenance and customers will be notified in advance through announcements in the Du Quoin Evening Call and WDQN radio.

Another change will be in bill collection policies. Old Du Quoin customers will now fall under city ordinances that require disconnection for non-payment of bills. Customers who fail to make water payments on time will receive disconnection notices by mail. The city does indeed disconnect, and reconnection can only be made upon payment of the outstanding balance and a $25 reconnection charge.

In the long term, it is expected that Old Du Quoin customers will be pleased with the transfer of ownership and will see lower bills and improved water quality. If customers have any questions, they should call the Du Quoin Water Office at 542-3841 or visit the office at 302 E. Poplar Street.