PROJECT INFORMATION:
The project follows a water system master plan for the city of Douglas and the adjacent areas served
by the city. 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 had 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. Design of the Spring improvements is
nearing completion a construction contract for this work will be advertised for bid in the summer of
2002. A contract for rehabilitation of the towns tanks was awarded in early 2001 and will complete
in the summer of 2002. A third project to reconstruct the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy
booster station has also been awarded and will complete in the summer of 2002.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action is required on this project.