Chemicals’ costs rise for MVSD

Rising fuel prices are blamed for increases.

STAFF REPORT

MINERAL RIDGE — It will cost the Mahoning Valley Sanitary District more money in its 2008-09 fiscal year for water treatment facility chemicals — considerably more.

Chief Engineer Thomas Holloway said estimates indicate the increase could be as much as $108,000.

“I attribute these increases to higher fuel costs for delivering chemicals along with the costs of producing them,” Holloway said.

During the MVSD board meeting Wednesday, Holloway produced a chemical cost-comparison chart, which showed that fluoride costs per ton jumped from $435 to $650 — an increase of more than 49 percent from last year.

Carbon showed the second-highest increase per ton with costs rising from $904 to $1,160 — a jump of more than 28 percent.

Holloway said he was unable to explain why fluoride costs skyrocketed.

“All I can tell you is that we have eight chemical suppliers and seven of them went up,” Holloway said.

Holloway emphasized that his financial figures are based on estimates.

“This could greatly impact our budget, and we’ll have to determine how much,” the chief engineer said.

The board unanimously approved all contracts for the chemicals.