utility services

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A Reliable Water Source for Mason

In the early 1990's, the City of Mason began exploring options for obtaining additional supplies of water. Studies had projected that the Shaker Creek Aquifer, the city's only water source, was not large enough to provide water to meet the maximum demands that would be placed upon the system by the year 2001. The most cost effective method for obtaining additional water proved to be purchasing additional water from the City of Cincinnati's Water Works. In 1999, Mason began purchasing up to 5 million gallons of water each day.

In 2000, once again recognizing a growing need for additional water in the city, staff began reviewing how to address Council's concerns with the city's long-term water supply and escalating utility costs for residents. Once again, it was determined that the best solution was to work with Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW). In a dramatic and positive step for the future supply of water for Mason's residents, Mason City Council approved a 30-year contract that transferred all water operations to GCWW.

Major benefits of the city's contract with GCWW included the following:

• GCWW reduced rates by 7% from Mason's previous water rates.
• If Mason would have chosen not to contract with GCWW to provide water, a rate analysis indicated that Mason would have had to increase rates approximately 30% in 2002 in order to ensure adequate debt service coverage for the necessary capital improvements.
• GCWW agreed to $30 million in capital improvements to the water system, $4 million more than Mason's proposed $26 million through 2020.
• GCWW's proposal included adding softening capabilities to the water treatment plant. Implementation was to begin in 2004 and be completed by the end of 2006. In practice, implementation was completed when GCWW decommissioned the city's old water treatment plant and began providing all customers with softer water from GCWW's Miller Treatment Plant in 2005.
• GCWW's proposal included converting Mason (as well as other customers in their service area) to automated meter reading, beginning in 2003, to allow resident's meters to be read in a more timely manner. The regular readings reduce fluctuations in bills due to uneven usage. The process was completed in 2011.

Water service questions and issues

State of the Art Wastewater Treatment

The City of Mason Public Utilities Department operates a Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) on Mason-Morrow-Millgrove Road. The plant first began accepting flows on May 10, 2006, and continues to draw interest from industry specialists for its state-of-the-art processes.

The PTI (Permit-to-Install) application and an updated NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System) permit application for the new plant were submitted to the OEPA (Ohio Environmental Protection Agency) in April 2003. OEPA conducted a combined public hearing for permit renewal and anti-degradation on September 9, 2003, at Mason Municipal Center. The City of Mason received approval by the OEPA of the PTI and NPDES permits in October, 2005.

The receiving stream for the City of Mason WRP is a small tributary of the Little Miami River named Muddy Creek.

The WRP serves all residential, commercial, and industrial entities, including public buildings, within the city. Treatment is ongoing 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. In addition, WRP staff operates and maintains 9 remote lift stations.

Reclaiming wastewater to return it to the environment is a complicated but efficient process. Here are some of the components of the City of Mason's Water Reclamation Plant.

• Outlying Collection System
• Influent Pump Station
• Screening and Grit Removal
• Oxidation Ditches
• Clarifiers
• Disinfection
• Reusing Treated Water

Sewer service questions and issues

Trash Collection

Trash collection in the City of Mason is contracted by the city on behalf of all residential customers. The city, representing the 11,500 or more households in the city, holds significant opportunities to seek the best collection rate based on the number of customers who will benefit. Households in unincorporated areas that must find their own trash hauler typicall5y pay about $22 or more per month, whereas city residents pay about two thirds of that amount.

The city's current residential waste hauler is Rumpke.

Trash tips

Stormwater Utility

Mason's stormwater utility was created in 2001 to meet federal regulations regarding rain and snow runoff. Through the utility, the city collects funds that are used exclusively for stormwater management projects. 

Stormwater management in Mason