October 14, 1999 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: EWEB's External Communications Coordinator Eugene Water & Electric Board 500 E. 4th Avenue Eugene Water & Electric Board to Discuss Plans to Finance Extensive Improvements to the Water System Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB) will hold a public forum on Wednesday, October 20 to discuss with customers how it plans to foot the bill for the $36 to $50 million in work that needs to be performed on the water system in the next 10 years. The forum will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Board Room at EWEB’s North Building, 500 East 4th Avenue. To ensure an ample water supply for EWEB customers through the next decade and beyond, EWEB is embarking on a series of major water system expansion and improvement projects in 2000. These projects include: Construction of a new 42-inch water transmission main. Addition of a 15 million gallon reservoir at Hayden Bridge Filtration Plant. Construction of two new filter beds and a settling basin at Hayden Bridge Filtration Plant. Upgrades, including seismic improvements, to enhance the water quality and performance of Hayden Bridge Filtration Plant. Consideration of the development of wells for use as a back-up water source. EWEB intends to use water revenue bonds to finance the majority of these projects. Under provisions of the Uniform Revenue Bond Act, EWEB and the City Council recently took action to authorize $36 million in bonds for this purpose. These bonds will be repaid primarily with funds collected through EWEB’s water system development charge (SDC). The SDC is applied to all new water system users and reserved for improvements and expansions to the water system. EWEB staff will provide information to those attending the forum, discuss the plans in more depth and answer customer questions. For more information, EWEB customers can contact EWEB’s Public Affairs department at 484-2411. -30-