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i Round Mountain Water and Sanitation District Water System Improvements Project B. 9. Additional Information . Round Mountain Water & Sanitation District's project meets the criteria of this application for the following reasons: SB 179 states that the Severance tax trust fund was created to use site resources in funding programs that promote and encourage sound management and development related to water, amdng other things. The Water Supply Reserve Account was created with moneys allocated for water activities and projects adproved by Roundtable's criteria. The criteria ensures I allocations will meet those water supply needs identified under Article 75, and shall facilitate both structural and non- structural projects. RMW's project is a structural project. These frinds will oroduce action! Article 75 refers to developing a basin-wide consumptive and noncolumptive water supply needs assessment, conduct an analysis of available unappropriated waters within the basin, and! propose projects or methods, both structural and nonstructural for meeting those needs and utilizing those unappropriated waters were appropriate...It took close to six I years of engineering and water court and legal battles for RMW to get the appropriated water it needed, but what we don't have and need is a system to get the appropriated water to its users. I The Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) Report contains }Vater Management Objectives and Related Basin Roundtable Comments. Many of those objectives and comments relate to RMW's project. I One objective was to Sustainably meet Municipal and Industrial and Agricultural Demands, Arkansas Basin commented that the lack of reliable Municipal and Industrial supply could itnpact population and tax base. RMW's project addresses improving Municipal water supply. With the pro~osed improvements, RMW can effectively and efficiently supply water to its existing district population, and ptovide for future expansion, thereby allowing for growth and an increase in the tax base ofthe community. I Another objective in the SWSI Report was to optimize existing and fUture water supplies and maximize the use of existing and new in-basin supplies. RMW's project does both, it optimiz~s the existing system and will provide for future . growth. And even though RMW only serves a small popUlation,!lt stIIJ serves resid.... in Custer Cuunty who are . within the Arkansas River Basin. This is a perfect opportunity for an isolated county within the Basin to participate fairly in the Roundtables distribution of funds. I , Promote Cost Effectiveness is another objective of SWSI. Allocate cost to all beneficiaries fairly and achieve i benefits at the lowest cost. Arkansas Basin commented that the cheapest solution is not always the best. RMW's project is not cheap, but if we cannot attain affo~dable funding methods now, costs will only increase later, and the consumer will be affected the most ~th higher utility bills. The district's debt per capita of $878 is close to the statewide average of $899 for ~ater and sewer debt. RMW's monthly water rates of $34.27 are already higher than the statewide avera~e of $32.45. , The last objective I want to mention is Protecting Cultural Values, mlintaining the quality of life unique to each basin and providing for long-term needs beyond 30 years. RMW's study completed by the Crabtree Group of Salida was based on needs projected for a 25-year growth period. Our project w~1I provide a solution that addresses existing and long-term needs for our area. I I A statement from the SWSI Objectives Draft reads, "While recognizing that it is important to have a healthy economy in I each basin, it was determined that the clearest link between water management and economics is through having a i dependable supply for all uses." RMW is asking for $120,000 of Basin Grant Funds to help accomplish providing a dependable municipal water supply for existing and future Colo~ado residents living in a portion of the Arkansas River Basin. I Water Conservation. RMW has made a lot of progress in terlns of water conservation. In 1996, with a fully I metered system, we pumped an average of 138,000 gallons per customer per year. In 2006, 10 years later, we . pumped an average of only 116,000 gallons per customer per yJar. This is 22,000 gallons per customer per year ~~ less than 10 years ago, a 16% reduction in use per customer. i This average was accomplished through meter testing and replacement, leak detection, rate increases, and a program of voluntary water conservation. RMW also has available a handout on Conservation Tips and routin~ly adds conservation tips on its monthly water billings. I i , ATTACHMENT E ",.