PROJECT INFORMATION:
The town of Torrington received financing from the 1998 legislature to complete a new municipal
well field and bring the water into the town's distribution system. It is anticipated that loan funds
will be offset by financing from RUS.
The purpose of the project is to replace older high nitrate wells with new wells located closer to the
North Platte River, which are expected to be lower in nitrates. This approach has been used
successfully in other communities in the region. Project components include wells, pumps,
electrical service, control and disinfection facilities, telemetry, booster pumps, pipe, and
appurtenances.
The sponsor has explored groundwater at two locations. The first site had insufficient aquifer
thickness and the second site had uranium in excess of drinking water standards. Independent of this
funding the town has installed reverse osmosis treatment units on four wells in town. This action
was necessary to comply with an EPA administrative order. Ownership of treatment units coupled
with the inability to find groundwater that meets all drinking water standards has resulted in a shift in
the project to seek relatively good quality water closer to town in an effort to reduce pipeline and
related capital costs and operationally to reduce but not eliminate treatment. It is anticipated that a
course of action satisfactory to the town and to the EPA will be determined early in 2002. If this
course of action complies with the intent of WWDC and RUS funding, construction will continue in
2002 under this project.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
The WWDC recommends the funding reversion date for the project be amended to be July 1, 2007.
