WSP07436

• File Number: 8543.600
• Description: San Luis Valley Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Date: 6/1/1987
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: San Luis Valley Project - Colorado - Closed Basin Division - Design and Planning
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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PROJECT FEATURES

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We 11s and Pump s

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The depth to ground water throughout the project area rsnges from about 0.5 to
15 feet. The. potential for salvaging water is greatest in Stages 3, 4, and 5
where cleaner sands make wat~r easier to collect than from the silty Banda of
Stage 1-2.

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The pump designs for each stage reflect the particular conditions of the well
sites. Design engineers must consider factors such as the rate ~ater will he
pumped and the horsepower needed to lift the water to the desired level.

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The drilled wells are equipped with a submersible, electrically-driven pump.
The well and pump are hou~ed in a concrete vault set into the ground. The vault
extends about one foot above the ground surface. It has aCcess hatches for
maintenance of the pump, its electrical system, and discharge pipe. The pumps
8re tested at the pump manufacturing plant and again at the actual well ~ites
after installation. Careful records are made of their performance.

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Well Field Lstersls

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Buried pipelines, called well field laterals, connect a series of wells together
snd collect the pumped water. Smaller laterals lead to lsrger ones which
deliver the combined pumped waters to the conveyance channel. The total com-
bined length of the well field laterals is about 100 miles. Service snd access
roads, which are considered accessory construction features. sre constructed for
maintenance.

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The pipelines range in diameter from 4 inches to 36 ~nches. The laterals are
buried about 4 to 5 feet underground.

The drawing on the following page shows what a typicsl lateral system looks
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Conveyance Channel

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The conveyance channel is a sp~cially constructed canal which extends from
Highway 17 north of Hooper, Colorado, southward to the Rio Grsnde.

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The channel will collect water from the well field lsterals and deliver it to
the river. The entire channel is about 42 miles long.

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The dimensions of the channel vary from a width of 8 to 22 feet on the bottom,
and from about 4.7 to 5.7 feet in depth. The channel, is lined with a 20 mil
thick polyvinylchloride -- PVC -- materisl to prevent loss of water through
leakage. The PVC is covered with sn aversge of 10 inches of earth cover and
then 6 inches of sand and gravel to protect the lining. When completed, the
channel will be the longest PVC lined canal of its kind in the United States.

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