ELCO 1996 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: East Larimer County Water District Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 1/6/1997
• County: Larimer
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

The amount of water delivered through the C-BT project is established each spring
by the Northern Colorado Conservancy District Board. Since the C-BT project was
developed to supplement native flows, an above-average water supply from native
sources results in a lower delivery of C-BT water. Conversely, when a water shortage
is predicted, deliveries of C-BT water are increased. The average delivery from the
C-BT project is approximately 70% or .70 acre feet per unit. '

Developers of new homes and businesses must provide enough C-BT or North
Poudre water to supply their water demands. Currently, one acre foot of raw water is
dedicated to the District for each new 5/8" water tap. The District converts C-BT
water at one acre foot per unit and North Poudre water at 3.5 acre feet per share.

ELCO maintains, a raw water supply that is adequate to serve its customers in all but
the driest years. An extended period of hot, dry weather nearly exhausted water
supplies in northern Colorado in the late 1970s. In response to the water supply,'
shortage, ELCO and other water suppliers in the area asked cUstomers to limit their
lawn watering. A similar request would be made in the future if raw water supplies
fell short of customer demands. ',,' . '

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2.2 Treatment Capacity

2.2.1 Water Treatment

ELCO Water District, Fort Collins-Loveland Water District and North Weld County
Water District jointly own and operate the Soldier Canyon Filter Plant. Through
connections with the three districts that own the plant, water is also supplied to the
towns of Windsor, Ault and Eaton as well as portions of Pierce and the Northern
, Colorado Water Association.

Soldier Canyon was originally constructed in 1963 with a capacity of four million
gallons per day (MGD). Modifications were subsequently made to the plant in 1970
to increase the capacity to 10 MGD and in 1978 to 20 MGD. Plant improvements
- - - - were comp1efea fii -1992 -tliaf converted' The p1anl Irom a- direct -fiftflinon IaciIii)' fo- a - -
conventional process. Conversion to conventional treatment allowed the filter plant
to obtain a capacity rating of 28 MGD from the 'Colorado Department of Health.
The maximum production at the plant has been 22 MGD. Four new filters are
planned in 1997 to increase the capacity of Soldier Canyon.

2.2.2 Wastewater Treatment

ELCO Water District does not operate a wastewater collection or treatment system.
Customers receive wastewater service from Cherry Hills Sanitation District,Boxelder
Sanitation District or the City of Fort Collins. ' A number of customers have on-site
septic systems regulated by the Larimer and Weld County Health Departments.

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