Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Can FPUD add, subtract and multiply?

A recent article entitled “Sludge Savings” concerning FPUD’s new sludge drying plant (NC Times, 6/7/08) is troublesome.

FPUD claims they are now saving $6,000/month ($72,000/year) previously spent “to haul wet sludge to disposal sites.” However, FPUD is now producing dried sludge and the cost of operating this new sludge drying plant is $75,000/year. This is a net loss of $3,000/year.

In addition, FPUD is presently selling, to a local flower producer(?) 20 tons/month of this dried sludge for $4 per ton, producing $960/year of real income, thereby reducing its total loss to $2,040.

This is simple math. FPUD’s yearly loss from the operation of their sludge drying plant is $2,040 using FPUD’s printed numbers. This is an extremely poor investment of the $2 million of ratepayers money spent on construction of this sludge drying plant. Their sludge drying plant is not saving FPUD money, it is costing FPUD money.

The FPUD article referenced above also appears to be an advertisement to entice new buyers. Example: the last paragraph reads, “Anyone interested in bidding on the biosolids [dried sludge] in the future can contact…”

San Diego City eliminated their sludge drying business years ago because they were losing money. This is another example of FPUD’s poor money management.

I predicted in 2004 that overall water rates could rise if McDougal is elected [to FPUD’s Board of Directors] and FPUD’s water rates have risen twice since then. Will Fallbrook ever learn?

Archie McPhee

 

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