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 were 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 will not currently meet the EPA disinfection requirements if it is 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 proceeding and a contract for rehabilitation of the town's tanks will be awarded in
early 2001. Concurrently, a third project to reconstruct the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy
booster station will proceed.
RECOMMENDED LEGISLATIVE ACTION:
No legislative action is required on this project.