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Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant and Loan Program <br />Water Activity Summary Sheet <br />Applicant: Town of Fowler <br />Water Activity Name: Installation of a Potable Water Supply Main for the Town of Fowler <br />Amount Requested: $91,000 <br />Source of Funds: $10,000 (Arkansas Basin Account) and $81,000 (Statewide Account) <br />Matching Funds: $20,000 <br />Water Activity Purpose: Structural water project or activity <br />County: Otero <br />Drainage Basin: Arkansas River <br />Water Sources: Tributary to Arkansas River <br />Staff Recommendation <br />Staff recommends approval of up to $10,000 from the Arkansas Basin Account and $81,000 from the <br />Statewide Account to help complete the Water Resource Development for the Town of Fowler, Colorado <br />project contingent on resolution of the items in the issues/additional needs section. <br />Water Activity Summary: <br />As described in the previous application, the Town of Fowler potable water supply is provide through two <br />spring systems, the "North" Springs, and "Hammond" Springs. The previous application (Water Resource <br />Development for the Town of Fowler, $190,000) is to assist in the development of five new springs (wells) <br />to provide a cleaner raw water source for the entire Town. This application is to assist in the funding of a <br />backfeed line from the town's raw water storage tanks to a portion of the Town's service area. This project <br />will allow provide higher quality potable water to the entire service area and allow the Town to be in <br />compliance with State water quality standards. <br />Threshold and Evaluation Criteria <br />The application/project meets all four Threshold Criteria. The Applicant describes how this project will help <br />ensure higher quality water for all of its customers. While not explicitly addressed in the application, a <br />major finding of SWSI was that the ability of smaller rural water providers to adequately address their <br />existing and future water needs is significantly affected by their financial abilities. Furthermore, there was a <br />strong desire for the State to provide financial assistance. With this in mind, this project does not appear to <br />have wide-ranging benefits outside of the region but does provide important improvements to the Town's <br />water supply system. <br />Discussion: <br />Considering that the Town is operating the Potable Water System under a Compliance Advisory from the Colorado <br />Department of Public Health and Environment due to slightly elevated Selenium levels. this project has the potential to <br />greatly improve the town's water quality to a level within State water quality standards. This project does not appear to <br />increase the Town's overall water supply by any significant vgeld but will exchange logy quality potable water with higher <br />quality potable water. Poor drinking water quality is a significant problem throughout the Lower Arkansas Vallev and the