PROJ01959 ‎(2)‎

• Contract/PO #: C150131A
• Contractor Name: Paonia, Town of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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Feasibility Report for Improvement of Paonia's Water Supply System
Town of Paonia
April 21, 2000

are highest in the summer, at more than 14 million gallons per month in June through August.
There is a smaller difference between summer monthly usage and winter monthly usage than in
many urban water systems because of the Town's efforts to minimize use of treated water for
irrigation. The data in Table 4.1 show that this is especially true for customers outside the Town
boundaries. In-town customer demand represents about 65 percent of total metered demand (81
million gallons per year), while out-of-town, individually metered customers represent
approximately 15 percent oftotal metered demand (20 million gallons per year). Private pipeline
companies that receive treated water from the Paonia water system through master meter
arrangements represent the remaining 20 percent of total demand (26 million gallons per year).

Given the short period of time for which comprehensive meter records were available, BBC
examined National Weather Service data on climate conditions in Paonia during 1998 and 1999.
These records indicate that this period was somewhat warmer and drier than normal, suggesting
that demands during a "normal" weather year might be slightly less than in 1998-1999.

BBC compared monthly and annual metered water demands with the estimated in-town and
out-of-town population of the Paonia water service area to derive average demands per capita.
As shown in Table 4.1, annual average water demand per capita within the Town boundaries is
approximately 127 gallons per day. Annual average per capita usage outside Town is about 10
percent lower (116 gallons per day), reflecting less irrigation use outside Town and, perhaps,
more modern plumbing in the newer housing stock outside the Town boundaries. Peak monthly
water demands in Town occur in July, when metered demand is approximately 234 gallons per
capita per day. Peak monthly demands outside of Town (171 gallons per capita per day) also
occur in July.

The existing per capita water demands were used in the analysis to convert projected future
population in the service area into projected metered water demand. Given that Paonia water
demands per capita are quite low compared to most Colorado municipal water systems, BBC did
not assume any reduction in future water demands per capita due to end-user conservation
efforts. As long as water demand is less than 2,000 acre-feet per year, Paonia will not be
required to comply with the water conservation guidelines promulgated by the CWCB Office of
Water Conservation. Based upon conversations with Town representatives, future Town policies
are anticipated to continue to stress minimal water use for outdoor irrigation by new customers.
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Table 4.1 also indicates the relationship between metered water demand and total treated water
production. BBC estimated that annual treated water production currently averages about 177
million gallons per year. The difference between this figure and the 127 million gallon metered
water demand reflects spills of about 12 percent of treated water production and other
unaccounted water totaling about 19 percent of total production.

~ GEl Consultants, Inc.

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J. \PROJECTSI99 368\ ReportslFeasibility. wpd