Donala Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 16 – Donala to lease water to Martin Marietta

• Martin Marietta water lease
• Pipeline contract awarded
• Highlights of operational reports
• Executive session

By James Howald and Jackie Burhans

At its February meeting, the Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD) considered a request from Martin Marietta to lease water from the district. A construction contract for a pipeline from Well 16A was approved and the board heard operational reports. The meeting ended with an executive session.

Martin Marietta water lease

General Manager Jeff Hodge said Martin Marietta had requested to lease DWSD’s treated effluent water and was willing to pay a higher price for that water than the district was currently getting. Martin Marietta was proposing a one-year lease, Hodge said.

The lease document specifies the water to be leased is treated reusable effluent discharged from the Upper Monument Creek Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility (UMCRWWTF). Martin Marietta needs the water to increase its discharge to the Arkansas River to offset losses from evaporation and use by its gravel mining operation.

The lease obligates DWSD to provide 135 acre-feet of water per year, and Martin Marietta to pay $300 per acre-foot. DWSD is not required to provide the water if its prior obligations are not met for any reason.

The board voted unanimously to approve the lease agreement.

Pipeline contract awarded

Hodge asked the board to consider awarding a construction contract to K. R. Swerdfeger Construction LLC for a raw water pipeline to connect newly drilled Well 16A to the R. Hull Water Treatment Plant. The engineering report for the project says the contractor will use directional boring under Bermuda Dunes Way, which will minimize impact on traffic. Some open excavation on DWSD’s property on Pauma Valley Drive will be required. The bid from K. R. Swerdfeger was for $292,302.

Hodge mentioned that only one bid for the contract was received. He said other potential bidders lacked the staff to do the work.

Highlights of operational reports

• Hodge told the board he and one other staff member had received training that qualified them to enter the arsenic removal building.
• Chief Waste Plant Operator Mike Boyett told the board that the UMCRWWTF had a high mercury result in its last round of testing.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to discuss contract negotiations with Colorado Springs Utilities concerning a long-term water contract and to receive legal advice on questions about the UMCRWWTF contract.

No action was taken following the executive session.

**********

The next meeting is scheduled for March 16 at 1:30 p.m. Generally, board meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. and include online access; call (719) 488-3603 or access www.donalawater.org to receive up-to-date meeting information. The district office is located at 15850 Holbein Drive, Colorado Springs.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me. Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Donala Water and Sanitation District articles

• Donala Water and Sanitation District, May 5 – Directors sworn in; district offices temporarily closed (6/7/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, April 17 – Workshop covers finances, water supply (5/3/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Mar. 27 – New water and sewer rates take effect (4/5/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Feb. 20 – Voters remove term limits (3/1/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Jan. 16 – Board passes housekeeping resolution (2/1/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 21 – State signs off on radium remediation (1/4/2025)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Nov. 21 – Board hears rate and groundwater supply studies (12/5/2024)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Oct. 10 – Board receives preliminary 2025 budget, considers rate increase (11/2/2024)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Sept. 19- -Board continues term limit debate (10/5/2024)
• Donala Water and Sanitation District, Aug. 15 – Board debates waiving term limits (9/7/2024)