Montgomery County and city of Dayton officials announced an “historic water agreement” Monday morning that will establish a long-term commitment by the county to continue purchasing the city’s water. The announcement was made at a joint news conference at Dayton City Hall.
The 20-year agreement that would automatically renew another 20 years will set up a timeline to determine when water rates are adjusted, but should provide predictability for water users and allow the city and county to work in tandem on infrastructure needs, officials said.
"This Long-term, collaborative agreement maintains quality, consistency and stability for our customers, said Debbie Lieberman, Montgomery County Commission president.
Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley said the agreement will establish a foundation for the long-term sustainability of the region's water resources.
"I consider this to be a true win for all of the citizens in Dayton and Montgomery County both now and for decades to come," Whaley said.
The city of Dayton wells provide more than 250,000 Montgomery County residents with drinking water. Montgomery County Environmental Services purchase water from the city and distributes the water to about 80,000 of those customers in about 1,400 miles of water mains.
Water rates climbed 14 percent this year for customers who get their water through Montgomery County and will go up another 5.6 percent each year through 2022.
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