People in Aberdeen concerned about paying for water they can't use

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Story Published: Sep 29, 2009 at 5:11 PM MDT

Story Updated: Sep 29, 2009 at 6:26 PM MDT

By Wes Horrocks

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ABERDEEN - Some people in Aberdeen are paying for canal water that they don't actually use, and they want it stopped.

The Aberdeen canal water shares were put in place in 1910, and are maintained by the Aberdeen Springfield Canal Company.

The city has one certificate divided into 640 shares-one for each lot. Morgan Anderson, Aberdeen Mayor said, "There is no money coming into the city. Every penny we collect goes to pay off this bill."

Ditches were used to supply canal water, but only one is still open. Anderson said, "I know of one for sure drowning we had in a ditch in the city."

The high school, along with a few homes, on the west side of Aberdeen are about the only ones benefiting from the canal water.

The city could put in a piping system, giving more people access to the water, but that would cost residents a lot more.

Individual owners who don't use canal water for their homes and lawns can't sell their shares, because all 640 have to be sold together.

The city is looking for someone to lease some of the shares, though, which would decrease the cost for residents. "We'd lease out about 500 shares, and your bill would automatically drop that much," said Anderson.

The city might eventually sell the certificate, but right now it's insurance.

Depending on the outcome of pending lawsuits among water users Aberdeen's wells could be shut-off.

With the shares they're guaranteed access to canal water. Anderson said, "That's all it is is security."

The individual cost of water shares can change every year based on maintenance costs.

It's currently at $25 a year per share.

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