LEBANON — This Warren County city will have to spend $52.5 million over the next 20 years to keep water coming to a population that's expected to double, according to a new report.

        “I would say we probably will see some rate increases,” said Councilman Jim Hause, chairman of the utility committee.

        According to the report, conducted by Hamilton-based engineers Finkbeiner, Pettis & Strout Inc., the city's wells can draw about 3.5 million gallons daily — almost enough to meet current peak demand.

        “We're not in a water crunch here,” acting City Manager Pat Clements said, noting that city-owned land on Mason-Morrow- Milgrove Road appears capable of adding 1 million gallons a day to that total.

        Still, that's not enough to meet Lebanon's projected 2020 peak demand of 8 million gallons a day.

        “In the next calendar year, we're at a decision point,” Mr. Clements said.

        One of Lebanon's biggest water users, the Countryside YMCA, welcomes the city's planning, even if it leads to higher water rates. The YMCA depends on city water for its eight pools and all the showers its 20,000 members take.

        “We would be more concerned if they weren't looking to the future,” YMCA Director Steve Boland said.

        Countryside YMCA's water and sewer costs came to about $29,000 for 2001 and are less of a concern than electric rates, Mr. Boland said.

        Lebanon has one of the lowest water rates in the region, at $46.08 for 22,500 gallons of water per quarter, compared with $58.80 in the city of Hamilton and $64.57 in Warren County.

        According to the report, Lebanon's long-term water options and the 20-year cost of each are:

        • Drilling additional wells in the Shaker Creek Aquifer. This is the cheapest choice, at $37.1 million, but the aquifer cannot be depended upon to supply all of the needed water. Overuse by area communities has been blamed for private wells going dry in Turtlecreek Township.

        • Getting out of the water business and instead buying pretreated water from suppliers such as Cincinnati Water Works, Warren County and privately run Western Water. Cost: $97.1 million.

        Mason recently decided to go this route. But it would cost Lebanon customers more longterm, Mr. Hause said, and the city would lose control.

        • Tapping into the Caesar Creek reservoir, about 10 milesnortheast. Cost: $71.3 million.

        The Finkbeiner report recommends a combination of the first and second options, which would supplement new wells with the ability to buy water as needed.

        This approach would cost $52.5 million over 20 years, according to the report. This would include operating costs and upgrades to Lebanon's water treatment plant and other inadequate infrastructure.

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