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r-- tv) tv) CHAPTER VI OTHER PROJECT USES It is possible that Rifle will experience a phenomenal growth due to the development of synthetic liquid fuel from shale in the vicinity which would necessitate an earlier expansion of its municipal water supply than is now apparent. If such a growth should occur and Rifle finds itself in need of additional municipal water, some would be available from the project by enlarging the dam or decreasing the irrigation supply. Present Development The gravity flow from Beaver Creek is the primary source of wat",r supply for Rifle. Although the town's right is for 1 second-foot of water, the supply is not dep>ndable as the amount available for munici- pal use drops below the decreed right during dry months. Water is piped to a filt"r and a 600JOOO-gallon reservoir a'oout 3 miles south- west of Rifle. From thi.s reservoir water flows to the city mains and to a 500,OO0-gallon reservoir east of Rifle.' This reservoir also receives water pumped from the Colorado River. The city has a right in the river for 15 second-feet, half of which is absolute and half conditional. The pipe line capaci ty of the pumping system is 7.5 second- feet. Its two pumps, which were installed in 1949 nnd 1950, each have a capacity of 500 gallons per minute or a combined capacity of 2.25 second-feet. Additional reservoir and chlorination facilities were installed east of Rifle during 1950 to store and treat water pumped from the river. The 1,518 people in Rifle and about 7'JJ people living,immediately outside the city limits are served by the municipal system. The system also provides 'ooiler water to the Uni ted States Vanadium Corporation and to the Denver and Rie Grande Western Railroad. No records have been kept of diversions from either Beaver CrtlSk or the Colorado River; therefore, pre sent per capita consumption must be estillBted from capaci- ties. A continuous diversion of the 1 second-foot decreed right from Beaver Creek would provide about 280 gallons daily to each person served by the system. Capacity of the supply pipe, however, is about 1.3 second- feet. Water pumped from the Colorado River during the summer of 1949 provided an additional average supply of approximately 90 gallons per capita daily. Thus average use throughout. the year probably amounts to more than 300 gallons per capita daily. , i' I ! I' I ! i '1 1 The quality of the municipal water has b",en investigated for the city with results as summarized in the table on the following page. More complete records of the quality of Colorado River water at a point 8 miles below Rifle are maintained by the Bureau of Mines. 45