PROJ00283

• Contract/PO #: FS0009X
• Contractor Name: Swink, Town of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Otero
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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PROJECT SUMMARY

The Town of Swink, Colorado is located in Otero County, approximately 5 miles
northwest of La Junta, Colorado. Throughout it's history, Swink has remained
a small rural community with a relatively stable population and an agricultural
orientated economy. Since 1970 a surge in population growth has occurred.
Population increased from a census count of 381 in 1970 to an estimated count
of 627 in 1976.

The Town's water system is a dual system with "soft" water derived from two
low capacity deep wells, partially treated f~r iron removal, and furnished
to the residents for potable consumption. The "hard" water system is supplied
by high capacity shallow wel1saand distributed to the residents for non-potable
use; irrigation and wastewater removal. Storage is provided by a 50,000 gallon
elevated tank on the soft water system and a 25,000 gallon elevated tank on the
hard water system. Distribution mains on both systems are predominately
4" and 2" lines constructed of a variety of piping materials. Numerous breaks
and failures of the mains have occurred in recent years.

The ability of the present water facilities to meet fire flow demands in
accordance with the Mountain States Inspection Bureau requirements is practically
non-existent. ' The distribution mains are undersized, partially plugged by
corrosion and scaling, contain inadequate pressures, and in some areas are
inadequately looped. Fire hydrants are inadequately spaced, undersized, and
almost inoperable due to age, non-use, and abuse. Elevated storage capacity at
an adequate pressure is approximately 1/3 of the capacity needed to meet
requirements for 1976.

The existing "soft" water supply wells are operating near maximum capacity.
Additional quantities of "soft" water are virtually unobtainable. The exist-
ing "soft" water supply is chemically undesirable for potable consumption,
failing in many aspects to meet the quality standards recommended by the U.S.
Public Health Service for human consumption. Both the "hard" and "soft" water
contain many similiar chemical characteristics which render either water diffi-
cult and expensive to treat. Since additional supplies of potable water are
not available within a reasonable period of time, treatment of the alluvial
water supply by reverse osmosis is recommended as the only feasible alternative.

Due to the high unit cost of treating the water for potable consumption, the dual
system concept is maintained. Improvements are:'proposed which provide an~"
acceptable quality of water meeting U.S. Public Health Service Standards in
adequate quantities to meet the projected needs for potable use through the
year 1995. The distribution system and storage capacity for the potable water
supply will be improved to provide fire flows to the existing town with provisions
for future extensions. The distribution system for the non-potable water supply will
be supplemented and looped to increase flows and pressures to outlying areas.

Existing water rates although not excessively low at the present time are in-
adequate~to construct and operate additional system facilities. Subst~ntial
rate increases are necessary to provide funds for debt~service retirement and
to meet projected operation and maintenance expenses on the proposed improvements.
Proposed rate schedules are included in the report for adoption depending on the
type of financing obtained.