PROJECT INFORMATION:
The Washakie County Commissioners applied for assistance in performing a
study to evaluate the potential of providing water to rural areas in the
Worland vicinity. There has been substantial residential development in
rural Washakie County, and because groundwater is generally poor in the
area there is need for a centralized water system.
The project identified all the rural users that could potentially be
served by rural water systems in Washakie County. Several sources of
supply were considered, but the Worland municipal system was determined
to be the only cost effective choice. A maximum of 333 taps were
identified, which would require approximately 78 miles of pipeline to
serve. A number of variations in service area configuration were
considered in an effort to delineate the most cost effective means to
serve the maximum number of taps. The least expensive scenario would
require monthly water bills of $84/tap to construct and operate.
A public meeting was held in Worland to present the results of this
study. Attendees were informed that the County Commissioners requested
WWDC conduct this study to give them information on the feasibility and
costs to develop rural water systems in their area. They were informed
that if they desire to pursue this idea they should begin the process of
organizing into district(s) and contact WWDC.
Washakie County residents are nearly finished forming a district and
have requested WWDC proceed with a Level II study of their proposed
rural water system. The new district includes the densely populated
areas along Highway 20 in Washakie County.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the project be incorporated into the New
Development program at Level II with an appropriation of $100,000.
