PROJ01996

• Contract/PO #: FS0068FX
• Contractor Name: Minturn, Town of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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C. Condition of Facilities

1. ~ater Supply. The Town owns water rights on Cross Creek in the amount of 7 cis (4.5
mgd). This amount is more than sufficient to meet current needs and accommodate near term
expected growth. In 1994, the maximum day demand was recorded to be 0.88 million gallons .
(1.36 cfs), However, the amount of water which can be diverted from Cross Creek will, in the
future, be limited by the actual stream flows. Minimum stream flows occur in the winter period,
January to March. Stream gauge records dating back to 1978 show that stream flows during
these winter months average less than 3 cfs, sometimes falling as low as 1 cfs, The stream gauge
lies below the treatment plant intake, and thus the reported stream flows do not include that
volume of water diverted for municipal use.

2. Water Treatment. Water treatment consists of filtration, chlorination, and fluoridation.
Filtration is accomplished through the use of three slow sand filters. Two of the filters are
exposed to the atmosphere, while one filter is housed inside a building. The outside filters each
have a 200 gpm capacity through the peak summer season. Due to sub-freezing temperatures
in the winter, the use of the outside filters is severely restricted, dropping as low as 10 gpm. The
. covered filter has a maximum treatment capacity of 425 gpm, and averages 375 gpm, Average
filter runs between cleanings are approximately 30 days for the outside filters and 30 to 45 days
for the covered filter, depending upon the time of year and the influent turbidity, The town
currently has one groundwater well with an 80 gpm rated capacity to back up the surface water
treatment system. During 1995, a second well of equivalent capacity, will be added to the
system. Both wells will pump into the clearwell at the treatment plant.

The treatment plant is in good overall condition. The 1991 improvements to the plant added the
third, covered slow sand filter, and installed a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane liner beneath
the exterior filter beds. Turbidity levels of filtered water are generally well below 0.5 TU, and
the treated water quality consistently meets the standards defined by the Colorado Department
of Health's "Primary Drinking Water Regulations".

3, Distribution Mains. As presented in the historical section, the Town of Minturn has been
aggressively upgrading the distribution system through replacement of old, wood stave pipe _
with modem ductile-iron pipe. Only three areas of wood pipe remain, and each will be
addressed in this project. The 1,200 foot segment of 12 inch wood stave pipe along Highway
24 and the 6 inch segment along Eagle Street will be replaced with ductile-iron pipe. The 10 inch
wood stave pipe that connects the existing storage tank to the distribution system will be taken
out of service with the addition of the new replacement storage tank.

4. Water Storage Tank. The existing 400,000 gallon uninsulated steel storage tank is in poor
condition. The tank is inadequately sized, based upon the design criteria developed in this study

Town of Minturn Water System Upgrade Project, March, 1995

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