1:
INITIAL OPERATIONS CHALLENGES

2: PROJECT
BACKGROUND

3: ALLIANCE
ACHIEVEMENTS

1: Initial Operations Challenges

• 
  A $500,000 transmission main had never been put
  into service for various reasons.
• Systems for monitoring
  tower levels and pressure needed upgrade and improvement.
• Excessive
  loss of the purchased supply was a significant drain
  on the District budget.
• Administrative functions including billing and collection needed improvement, and reliable financial reporting was lacking.
• The Districts staff needed to
  obtain certification for operation of the distribution
  system.
• Booster station and wastewater
  treatment plants had fallen into ill repair
  and testing was not being performed according
  to regulations.

2: Project Background

The Ralls water district purchases its
water wholesale from the City of Hannibal and distributes
it on a retail basis to the residents of eight nearby communities, as well as surrounding rural areas.

In addition to a complete range
of operation and maintenance services, Alliance provides
Ralls County Public Water Supply
District No. 1 with a variety of administrative services,
including meter reading, computerized billing, collection,
financial reporting, and day-to-day management of
the utility.

3: Alliance
Achievements

• Within weeks of signing the contract
  with Alliance, the East to West transmission main
  was being fully utilized, significantly helping pressures
  and flows
  to a sizable portion of the rural district.
• A radio
  telemetry SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition)
  system for the automatic monitoring and
  control of various critical water systems was put
  in place within the first week of Alliance’s
  operation agreement.
• An aggressive meter change
  out and leak detection program has been implemented
  to reduce unaccounted for
  water. With the high costs of the purchased water,
  calculations have shown that this effort will likely
  pay for itself
  in less than five years.
• Alliance
  has helped the District upgrade its filing and computer
  systems, improve delinquent collections and
  get a professional handle on its business operations
  and financial status.
• Detailed operating and maintenance procedures have been implemented, including AllianceÕs own ReCAP program for environmental testing and compliance.
• Alliance assisted the District in funding an Emergency Community Water Assistant Grant for $240,900 from USDA Rural Development. The grant, specifically earmarked for installation of a new booster pump station, allows the District to keep up with peak demand periods with increased water system capacity.
• Alliance assisted the District in refunding $1,655,000 in existing bonds to take advantage of lower interest rates and reduce annual P&I payments by approximately $60,000/year over the first several years.
• Wastewater plant operations have been optimized for efficiency. This has reduced the amount of sludge that must be hauled, a savings of nearly $1,500 each year.
• In August 2004, Alliance assisted the District to gain overwhelming voter approval of $4,000,000 in new bonding capability.
• From June 2001 through February 2005, Alliance assumed the role of primary District negotiator to arrange the sale of a portion of the DistrictÕs territory to the City of HannibalÕs Board of Public Works for $1,500,000. The sale of future customers via a territorial agreement ultimately required approval of USDA Rural Development and Missouri Public Service Commission. A new 20-year wholesale water purchase agreement was also negotiated.