PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The city of Lander Level III initial application submission was a request for $1,180,000 to replace
the existing 20-inch asbestos cement treated water transmission pipeline from the water treatment
plant to the Ellis tank, a distance of approximately 12,295 feet. Reconstruction of the Sinks Canyon
Highway by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) in 2002 and 2003 in
conjunction with the required increase in the treatment capacity of the water treatment plant dictates
that the transmission pipeline be replaced.
Water Development Account II funding was approved for the city of Lander water system during
the 1999 and 2000 Legislative Sessions. In 2000, $1,696,000 (50% grant and 50% loan) was
authorized for the replacement of the raw water transmission pipeline from the intake to the water
treatment plant. The raw water transmission pipeline, which is 9,320 feet long, will also be affected
by the WYDOT Sinks Canyon Road reconstruction.
The most recent engineering estimate (by Aspen Engineering 10/10/00) for replacement of both
pipelines has a total cost of $2,665,500, which can be broken down as $1,240,500 for the raw water
pipeline and $1,425,000 for the treated water pipeline. This means the Water Development
Account funds authorized for the raw water pipeline are $455,500 above the current estimate.
Should the authorizing legislation be changed to allow funding of the raw and treated water
pipelines the WWDC funds would be short $969,500 to allow for the replacement of both pipelines.
Due to very tight right-of-way constrictions on the upper end of the raw water transmission line
(Highway Sta 81+00 to 96+00), it appears that the only place to locate the pipeline is directly under
the roadway. It is therefore very desirable that the replacement of the pipeline in this section be
accomplished by the highway reconstruction contractor working for WYDOT. The estimated cost
for this portion of the pipeline is $760,400. It is recommended that WYDOT be approached to have
the pipeline project incorporated into the roadway reconstruction contract.
Total project costs (replacement of raw and treated water transmission pipelines) are thus
approximately $400,000 short of funds; assuming $569,500 is contributed by either WYDOT or the
city and the existing Water Development Account funds of $1,696,000 is used for constructing the
raw and treated water pipelines.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends that the previous legislation for the raw water transmission pipeline be
amended to allow funding for the raw and treated water pipelines; and that additional funding for
the project be incorporated in the Rehabilitation Program at Level III with an appropriation of
$400,000.
