PROJ00294

• Contract/PO #: C153035
• Contractor Name: Carbondale, Town of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 0
• County: Garfield
• Bill Number: SB 75-468
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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SECTION VII
WATER SOURCES

GENERAL

A municipal water system must furnish water to its customers on a con-

tinuous basis. Carbondale must have the legal right to take water at the

times and in the amounts n~eded; and the water must be physically in the

streams, -eservoi rs, and aqui fers to be taken. From a water resources

point of view, there are three princiJal limitations on a municipal water

supply. Fi rst is the physical avai labi 1 ity of water at the natural water

source, which is nonnally a stream or an aquifer; the second is the legal

right to divert from the natural streams and aquifers; and the third is the

water quality in the stream or aquifer.

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A critical evaluation of the amount of water that a particular stream or

water right can yield for municipalities is based on what it will yield in

a dry year when natural supply is low and demand is high. Relying on averages

in analyzing water supplies ofter leads to a false sense of security.

The estimated dry year peak demand for the fi rst phase development program

for Carbondale is 2.5 mgd and the estimated ultimate peak day demand is 7

to 8 mgd. This section of the report discusses the various water sources

available in the area.

PRESENT PHYSICAL WATER SOURCE

Carbondale is presently supplied with water from springs on the northwest

flank of Mt. Sopris along Nettle Creek, approximately seven miles south of

Town. Spring locations are shown on Drawing 1. The springs are perennial

in nature, but during periods of high irrigation (summer lawn watering), they

are inadequate to produce enough water to provide for the present demand.

The Nettle Creek spring flovl is deri ved from runoff and stored ground water

in the glacial fluvial debris which form an "apron" around the base of Mt.

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