PROJECT INFORMATION:
In 1989, Lincoln County approached the Water Development Commission on
behalf of six Star Valley public water systems under enforcement orders
from EPA to rehabilitate their water supply systems. WWDC funded a
Level II study to evaluate existing supply sources, to explore for new
sources of water, and to recommend alternatives. Five of six water
companies went through a district formation process. The other company
decided not to form a district, and assessed its membership for the
funds needed to bring the water system into compliance with EPA
standards.
The community of Etna, which presently serves 50 taps, formed the Etna
Water and Sewer District. The community is currently dependent on two
springs for its water supply. The Level II study recommended that the
springs be redeveloped to protect water quality, and that a well be
constructed to meet peak demands and allow the district to serve
additional existing homes in the area. The 1992 Level II work focused
on evaluation of available geohydrologic information.
The Level II investigation performed during 1993 included construction
of a successful test well. The well is capable of meeting the needs of
Etna and the surrounding area into the foreseeable future. Conceptual
designs and cost estimates were prepared for the needed facilities,
including a pump station, spring improvements, pipelines and
appurtenances.
In 1994 the district requested and received WWDC Level III funding to
proceed with only the immediate needs identified, delaying the long term
needs until an unspecified future time. The improvements for the
immediate needs includes the redevelopment and renovation of the water
system's springs, completion/development of the supplemental well
constructed under the WWDC Level II study, connection of the well to the
system and system disinfection equipment. That project was not
constructed due to local issues involved with the formation and
reformation of the Etna Water and Sewer District.
More recently the district has reconsidered the long-term implications
of approaching the project on a phased piecemeal approach. It is now
felt that the district residents would be better served by implementing
the "immediate" and "long term" improvement recommendations as a single
project. This approach will reduce the over-all project costs, reduce
the long-term user rates and provide greater over-all benefit to the
public. The long range improvements provide for a 250,000 gallon
storage tank and new transmission line piping; to alleviate low
pressures, replace deteriorated 30 year old leaking lines and to provide
emergency storage. In addition the long range improvements include non
WWDC eligible items to replace distribution lines and the installation
of service connections and meters.
Increased funds are being requested to allow the sponsor to complete the
project as originally presented in the Level II study. The project
agreement, note and mortgage have been prepared and the sponsor must
execute these documents before the project can proceed. It appears the
project is ready to proceed in 1998 and should be completed prior to
January, 1999.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the project appropriation be increased from
$300,000 to $690,000. The previously approved 1994 loan of $99,000 at
4% over 30 years is recommended to be canceled. The financing plan would
be a 62% grant of the eligible project costs, with the sponsor obtaining
the remaining project funding in the form of a grant and loan from the
Rural Utilities Service and Federal Mineral Royalty Capital Construction
Account grant for WWDC ineligible project components.