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Harry C. LaBonde, Jr., PE, Director 
6920 Yellowtail Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82002 
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2000 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
Active Projects

 28. PROJECT:Douglas Water Supply Project (formerly Douglas Master Plan)
LEVEL:III
SPONSOR:City of Douglas
LOCATION:Converse County
PROGRAM:New Development
  
EXISTING LEGISLATION:
Purpose Chapter Session Account Appropriation Due Date
Level III 16 1999 I $1,995,000 2002

PROJECT INFORMATION:
The project is a Water System Master Plan for the City of Douglas and the adjacent areas served by the City of Douglas. There are currently 2,275 taps within the corporate limits of the City of Douglas and approximately 75 outside the city limits. A population of 5,800 is served. These areas include users along the Little Box Elder Spring transmission line, Sheep Mountain Well transmission line, and the Ridgewater Estates Improvement and Service District. The city currently has three sources of potable water: 1) the Little Box Elder Spring, 2) the Water Treatment Plant located along the North Platte River, and 3) the Sheep Mountain Well. The Master Plan evaluated the existing transmission and distribution system and examined the ability of the sources in the system to meet the current demands and future demands in the anticipated areas of growth in Douglas. Hydraulic modeling was used to isolate the cause for low water pressure problems in two areas of the city, Riverbend Subdivision and Frontier Village. Potential system modifications were considered to meet current and projected growth areas which are experiencing inadequate system pressures. Preliminary designs were prepared for potential solutions and cost estimates were made for remedying transmission and distribution problems.

In addition to the hydraulic modeling and transmission and distribution system evaluation, treatment of the potable water sources would be evaluated. The water treatment plant was constructed in the early 1980's. Treatment and disinfection requirements have become more strict since that time by amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act. Specifically in question is the chlorine contact time (CT) and chlorine residual at the water treatment plant. Additionally, the Disinfection Rule will require the city to meet CT requirements for the Sheep Mountain Well and the Little Box Elder Spring. There are currently over 30 domestic taps ahead of the point of chlorination on the Spring transmission line. It is recommended that the point of chlorination be moved to the spring house.

The City of Douglas has experienced steady growth since the late 1980's. Additional potable water sources have been added to meet the increasing demands in the system. However, the entire transmission, distribution and storage system has not been evaluated or updated.

The water treatment plant and the Sheep Mountain well have been added to the system over the years. As they were added to the system, the impacts of each source on the entire system was never thoroughly evaluated. Currently there are several hydraulic limitations and "bottlenecks" in the transmission and distribution system caused by the three sources competing to supply the demands.

The water treatment plant would not currently meet the EPA disinfection requirements if it was operated at full capacity. Additionally, a thorough evaluation of the treatment train and techniques needs to be performed to verify compliance with all of the rules and regulations in the Safe Drinking Water Act amendments.

Evaluation of options to resolve the issues identified in the Master Plan Document (Level I Study) has begun. This is being done by Civil Engineering Professionals Incorporated in Casper, Wyoming. The deficiencies of the system have been prioritized with the most critical item being to secure the Little Box Elder Spring as a viable future water supply.

RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action is required at this time.

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