Water line rehab projects moves forward

Over the next couple years, people in Thermopolis can expect to see some heavy work with the water lines during a rehabilitation project.

Town Engineer Anthony Barnett explained the lines included in the project are all transmission lines, and those are the lines the Wyoming Water Development Commission will provide funding for. “They won’t fund services or distribution lines.”

At the Thermopolis Town Council Dec. 20 meeting, Mayor’s Assistant Fred Crosby noted he and Barnett travelled to Cheyenne to meet with the Wyoming Water Development Commission. He pointed out the commission had, at that time, only approved Phase 1 of the water line project. “We’ve been kind of persistent, wanting them to fund Phase 2 also,” Crosby said.

Phase 1 goes from the water treatment plant along south Fifth and Seventh streets; Phase 2 involves Hot Springs State Park and Phase 3 involves Valley View Drive from the Cedar Ridge pump station.

Crosby said he and Barnett met with a couple representatives, and the commission later recommended they go into reserves for an additional $345,000 for the project, to fund Phases 2 and 3. The trip, Crosby said, was well worth it and they might not have received the funding if they weren’t so persistent.

Barnett said the current State Park lines were installed in 1962, and those on 5th and 7th are that age or older, based on the type of material used. He further added much of the lines are asbestos cement and cast iron that the Town has had to dig up and fix leaks on. Through the rehabilitation project, the lines would be replaced with PVC pipe.

There was a river bore by the lagoons this year, Barnett said, and this rehab project would provide for another. “Right now,” he said, “the existing line hangs off the 6th Street bridge, so in spring when everything floods the water gets up close to that bridge. If there were ever a big log or slightly bigger runoff event, one of the lines coming from the plant could be in jeopardy.”

Barnett is hopeful construction can begin in about 10 months, pending final design review and additional funding. Though funding would be available in July, Barnett said one of the main reasons for waiting until October is there can be no line replacements for those coming from the water treatment plant during peak water use in the summer, because they wouldn’t be able to get water into the system.

“If we do it as a fall/winter/spring project, we won’t be able to repave during that time but with the lower water use they can just idle the plant along and use the other lines to keep things moderately topped off.”

Though a definite project completion date is not set, Barnett estimated it would be in July 2018.

The goal of the project is to simply provide water, Barnett said, noting nobody new will be served and tank elevations will remain the same so water pressure is not affected.

Barnett said there’s about of $1,000,000 of funding which still needs secured for the project, which can hopefully be done through grant and loan packages. He explained if the town can put as much funding together through a loan or grants, it reduces the impact on water rates.