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Greeley Water Pipeline Update: Summer 2010
The Greeley Water and Sewer Department is building a 30-mile, 60-inch diameter pipeline that will transport drinking water from its Bellvue Water Treatment Plant northwest of Fort Collins to Greeley . The pipeline will add capacity to Greeley 's existing lines in the area, originally built between 1907 and 1952. The project began in 2003 and is being completed in several segments with a projected completion date of 2013.
Greeley is dedicated to finding solutions that are best for our community and neighboring communities. This includes ensuring that the pipeline project is cost-effective, environmentally conscious, and constructed in a collaborative fashion that takes into account the concerns of affected landowners. With these goals in mind, Greeley recently made the decision to tunnel under portions of land along the Northern Segment near Laporte. This will avoid key geological features and historic structures.
Greeley continues to reach out to affected property owners and stakeholders to ensure construction of the remaining segments of the pipeline goes as smoothly as possible for them and the community. Currently, Greeley is constructing a two-mile pipeline segment near the Union Pacific Railroad track northwest of Fort Collins . This portion of the Fort Collins Segment should be complete in the fall of this year. Specific to the Northern Segment, Greeley has met with nearly all of the affected landowners to discuss their concerns regarding construction and location of the pipeline. When feasible, design and location of the pipeline are adjusted in response to landowners' concerns. The City has also started sending letters to property owners making offers for temporary and permanent pipeline easements. During this process, Greeley will continue to provide updates and solicit feedback.
Greeley Drinking Water Surpasses State and Federal Health Standards
The latest version of Greeley ' s Consumer Confidence Report is published each June, as required by law. It is an annual summary of the quality of drinking water treated and distributed by the City of Greeley . The City routinely monitors for a long list of potential contaminants in our drinking water. No violations of state or federal safe drinking water quality regulations occurred in 2009, for which this report was prepared.
The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes the standards for public drinking water systems in the country, including Greeley 's. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in drinking water provided by public water systems.
Greeley 's water starts as pure Rocky Mountain snowmelt and the Water Department uses the latest technologies and most effective practices to further improve the quality of our drinking water. Two water treatment plants make the water safe to drink in Greeley . The Bellvue plant is located at the mouth of the Poudre Canyon and runs continually throughout the year. The Boyd Lake plant in Loveland is a seasonal peaking plant, which operates through the lawn watering season. Both plants have been upgraded within the last five years.
Twelve years ago, the Greeley Water Department began issuing annual Consumer Confidence Reports. The most recent report includes sources and levels of detected substances (both regulated and unregulated); and the potential health effects associated with those substances. Greeley water customers will receive a copy of the Report in their June water bills. Water customers who do not receive water bills and those who have water quality concerns or questions should call 970-350-9846. The report and additional information is available on the City of Greeley 's web site at www.greeleygov.com/ccr .
Greeley Water Board Chairman Advocates for More Water Storage before Congressional Subcommittee
In testimony before a U.S. Congressional subcommittee hearing on managing agricultural and municipal water needs, Harold Evans, Greeley Water and Sewer Board Chairman, emphasized the need to build water storage in the South Platte Basin as essential to protecting the future of agriculture and ensuring municipal water needs are met.
“Agriculture, particularly irrigated agriculture, has been the economic life blood of Greeley and Weld County for the past 140 years,” stated Evans. “The challenge is how to meet the increased municipal demand without devastating irrigated agriculture.”
A recent analysis found that there is currently a water shortage on irrigated lands of around 257,000 acre-feet in the South Platte basin. “Agriculture needs more water,” Evans testified. He explained that meeting this need and the water needs of municipalities in the basin will require additional water storage. Three major water storage projects are in the permitting process, and Evans testified that if they are not built, the water they would have supplied will end up coming from agricultural lands.
“This transfer of agricultural water will cause significant economic, social and environmental damage to the Basin and the State,” he testified. “The construction of new storage is absolutely critical to meeting our future water supply needs.”
Mr. Evans also provided the House Subcommittee on Water and Power with a fact sheet outlining the actions Greeley Water and Sewer has taken to work cooperatively with the agricultural community in meeting mutual water needs. “This partnership is a model of cooperation for meeting agriculture and municipal water demands,” he testified.
Mr. Evans entire testimony is available online.
Save Water with Greeley's Commercial Water Conservation Programs
Greeley's Water Conservation Program offers services to businesses within the city of Greeley to help save water and lower utility bills. An indoor commercial audit determines areas where repairs and upgrades will achieve maximum water savings. Rebates are available on new appliances and fixtures that will save water in bathrooms, commercial kitchens, laundries, and other areas of your facility. Irrigation audits are also available in the spring and summer, but early registration is encouraged. Those who participate in irrigation audits will get a list of suggested sprinkler system improvements and a customized watering schedule.
Call Ron at 970-336-4227 to learn more about any of Greeley's commercial water conservation programs. Get more information here.
Greeley Water & Sewer Awards Outstanding Employees
Since 1997, the city of Greeley Water & Sewer Department has presented employee awards. The department employs 112 full time workers and annually recognizes two employees from Water and two employees from Wastewater who are worthy of recognition. The Water & Sewer Department's Best Suggestion award serves to recognize employees for great ideas that have been suggested over the past year and approved for implementation, while the W.D. Farr Top Hand award recognizes employees for their outstanding work ethic and job performance that routinely demonstrates a commitment ‘to go above and beyond'.
The winner for the water Top Hand award is Luis Maldonado. Luis started his career 39 years ago as a laborer in the Water & Sewer Department and in 1998 he was promoted to Crew Supervisor in distribution operations. Throughout his years of service to the department, he has always projected a positive “can-do” attitude and consistently demonstrates leadership by setting the example and high standards for others to follow. Luis has always excelled in the operation and utilization of construction equipment and project management. Now as a crew supervisor, his leadership and experience helps the division to successfully achieve construction, maintenance and customer service goals.
The wastewater Top Hand award winner is Roger Herman. Roger has been employed at the City of Greeley’s Water Pollution Control Facility for nearly 40 years. His forte lies in his diligence in checking plant equipment, attending to the care and maintenance of the facility’s sprinkler system, and working in the most inclement or unpleasant working conditions and surroundings without complaint. Roger is very good at taking care of the “odds and ends” that usually are of little concern to others and which often go unnoticed. His many years of experience with the pumps, motors and related rotating units at the plant make him an invaluable employee.
Steve Robben is the water Best Suggestion winner for his problem solving abilities that transfer into cost savings to the city. He suggested measures for the sodium hypochlorite project, by choosing a pump alternative that saved the department $4,500. Steve also designed and installed the SCADA systems for monitoring and controlling the city's non-potable facilities on the #3 Ditch. By eliminating the need for the instrument design engineer and electrical contractor, Steve saved the department approximately $20,000.
The wastewater Best Suggestion award went to the entire wastewater operations staff, which includes Wade Blehm, Grant Ruff, Marc Ortiz, Jerry Mongan, Chris Walter, David Sgranfetto, Rudy Montanez, and Richard Hopp. For $350, the crew developed a control and management system to treat high strength ammonia. By installing a crossover pipe and valve, the treatment of high strength ammonia has been streamlined and improved. This has resulted in a daily 307 pound reduction in ammonia waste that requires treatment.