C153773 Feasibility Study

• Contract/PO #: C153773
• Contractor Name: Morrison, Town of
• Contract Type: Loan
• Water District: 9
• County: Jefferson
• Bill Number: HB 95-1155
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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In 1994, Morrison contracted with Cooley for raw water storage in Cooley Reservoir"). This
Agreement provides the Town with 90% of the storage capacity, with a minimum overall storage
capacity of 500 acre-feet, of which the Town would be entitled to 450 acre-feet - in exchange
for an agreement to provide limited water service to portions of 585 acres annexed into the
Town.

APPROACH

Morrison's water system is presently comprised of a water intake on Bear Creek located
approximately 1 mile west of Town, a gravity-feed transmission pipeline to the water treatment
plant, a rapid sand filter water treatment plant with a design capacity of 0.5 MGD, a 28.8 acre-
foot operational water storage reservoir, a 200,000 gallon above ground water storage tank, and
the distribution system. Each of these subsystems must be evaluated for integration into the
future water system in order to economically and reliably serve an expanding area and
population. Construction of capital improvements will be prioritized and phased into the system
as warranted, commensurate with development.

The intent of the capital improvements program is to upgrade the water system to facilitate the
use of Morrison's very valuable water rights. With the direct flow and storage water rights
portfolio now in place, one of the first steps to be undertaken is the development of physical
storage, as needed to maximize efficient use of the Town's water rights, i.e. obtain full value of
the rights. The raw water intake and delivery system must also have the capacity for diverting
all water legally attainable.

The water intake facility is a major subcomponent affecting the ultimate capacity and reliability
of the system. Water diversions must meet the direct demand plus provide water for storage as
allowed in the water rights decrees. The existing intake structure, transmission line, grit
chamber, and gravity pipeline has components 35 years old and much older. The system is
functional, but is not completely reliable, especially during flooding or very cold periods when
freezing has occurred. Therefore, Morrison must decide whether to rehabilitate the existing
gravity feed intake system, or abandon the existing intake system in favor of developing a pump
intake on Bear Creek, near the treatment plant.

Water quality should also be a major concern to Morrison and an important aspect of the water
system operation. The water quality in Bear Creek has deteriorated by receiving treated sewage
effluent from Evergreen and Genesee and other upstream development. This is a particular
problem during low flow periods, when treated effluent is a significant portion of the total flow in

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