Animas-La Plata Project Water Supply Demand Study

Section 3 Animas - La Plata Water Supply and Demand Study
A water demand study is currently underway for the LPWWA potential service area. The LPWWA is
represented by Eric Bikis, Bikis Water Consulting, he indicated that future demands will be based on existing
homes and estimated with electric meters data. Currently there are about 1,000 homes in the service area.
LPWWA also anticipates serving raw water to the Lake Durango Water Authority. LPWWA had been
estimating the cost for A -LP Project water to be approximately $1400 per AF (diversion). LPWWA is aware
of the A -LP Project Association and would be willing to participate, understanding that this would require an
acquisition of at least 780 AF of the State's A -LP Project water. LPWWA has developed a working
relationship with the Tribes and would also be amenable to leasing water from the Tribes on a long -term,
sustainable lease.
Obstacles to LPWWA utilizing A -LP Project water include:
■ Funding the purchase of A -LP Project water.
• Installing pumps and equipping the lake intake at Lake Nighthorse.
• Locating, financing and constructing a municipal water treatment plant.
• Locating, financing, and constructing a pipeline and distribution system to convey water to the service
area.
3.4.1.2 La Plata Archuleta Water District
The La Plata Archuleta Water District ( LPAWD) is a newly created water provider located in eastern La Plata
County and a portion of Western Archuleta County. LPAWD presently Qanuary 2010) has no customers and
anticipates the future construction of 4,000 to 10,000 units within their district. This number will vary
depending on the final La Plata County growth regulations. LPAWD expressed interest in purchasing 500-
1,000 AF of A -LP Project water from the State in their April 9, 2009 letter to CWCB.
LPAWD is represented by Amy Kraft, Harris Water Engineers. Harris Water Engineers have developed a
draft water master plan for LPAWD. Demands for 2030 are anticipated to be approximately 2,300 AF and
will be supplied using two sources of water. One source of water will be from the Pine River, utilizing
treatment from a joint water treatment plant with the Town of Bayfield and the other will be water from the
A -LP Project. The LPAWD water master plan estimated costs for acquiring the A -LP Project water to be in
the range of $2,500 - $3,500 per AF. LPAWD is looking to purchase water supplies for the future and would
prefer to purchase this water from the State because it is anticipated that the Tribes will be wanting to lease,
and not sell, their A -LP Project water supplies. Ms. Kraft was not aware of the A -LP Project Association and
was provided with the contract.
Obstacles to LPAWD utilizing the water from the A -LP Project include:
• Funding for the purchase of A -LP Project water. The District was formed in November 2008 and
ballot questions concerning taxes and TABOR questions have been withheld from the ballot until
2010. Consequently, the District does not presently have a source of revenue and is still in the
planning stages.
■ Construction and equipping of the lake intake at Lake Nighthorse must be completed.
• Locating, financing and constructing a water treatment plant. The District has applied to the USBR
for funding for designing and building a water treatment plant for treatment of the A -LP Project water
to municipal standards. The funding assistance for the water treatment plant, however, "depends on a
USBR program which is still not complete." The water treatment plant is necessary for use of the A-
LP Project water supply for M&I purposes.
• A pipeline and distribution system will need to be completed to convey water to the service area.
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PAData\GEN\CWCB1738372 - Animas -La Plata Demand Study \Deliverables\Reports\FinallALP Cost Demand Study Final Report.docx