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ERMU also provides the water services within the City of <br />Elk River. We are very fortunate to have access to an <br />aquifer with pure /high quality water. This is not the case <br />for many cities. Because our water requires less water <br />treatment, we are able to keep water rates lower. The <br />Utilities is committed to conserve and protect our excellent <br />water source so we can continue to provide high quality <br />water at competitive rates. In 20 I I this meant working <br />with the League of Minnesota Cities and Minnesota <br />Municipal Utilities Association to protect our precious <br />water resource at a legislative level, and we will continue to <br />do that. <br />For the second year in a row, ERMU had a decrease in water usage although the number of <br />customers has remained constant. The usage is down 4.3% from 2010 and down 15.3% <br />from 2009 usage. Water sales ended the year under budget by 6.8% despite a conservative <br />budget forecast. This negative trend is primarily due to weather and perhaps partially due <br />to the economy. During the last two years, ERMU has also held our water rates constant <br />and also did not increase water rates for 2012. Even with the reduction in water usage and <br />rate freeze in 20 I I ,water revenue ended the year ahead of budget. The water utility ended <br />the year with expenses under budget by 7.6%. The water utilities also filled a vacant water <br />operator position in 201 I to return to proper staffing levels. This has significantly helped <br />the water utility push to complete their meter change-out program in 201 I . <br />~oz-~ cowtpa~ed to... <br />• <br />water ~tsa~e <br />