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El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority

By James Howald

At its July meeting, the El Paso County Loop Regional Water Authority (EPCRLWA) board executed a contract with Merrick and Co. to receive project management and workflow services. The board heard the results of water quality testing and voted to send a representative to the Colorado Water Conference (CWC).

The EPCRLWA was formed in November 2022 by an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cherokee Metropolitan District (CMD), Donala Water and Sanitation District (DWSD), the Town of Monument (TOM), and Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District (WWSD) to build infrastructure that would allow water, including treated effluent, that is flowing south in Monument and Fountain Creeks to be stored at Calhan Reservoir at Woodmoor Ranch and then pumped back north to be used by customers of the participating districts.

Details of project management contract decided

Russ Dykstra of Spencer Fane LLC, the legal firm representing EPCRLWA, told the board he had completed negotiations with Merrick on an agreement under which that company will provide project planning and workflow management services to EPCRLWA. An attachment to the agreement specifies Merrick will:

  • Refine the business model and operations schema for the project.
  • Develop and execute necessary legal documents including operating agreements, water supply leases, supply limitations and curtailment procedures, and financing agreements.
  • Develop requests for proposals for engineering services.
  • Select and onboard consultants and specialized professionals.

Dykstra added either side can terminate the agreement at any time with 30 days’ notice.

Jessie Shaffer, the president of the EPCRLWA Board of Directors, pointed out that the agreement limits Merrick to no more than $350,000 over a nine-month term ending April 19, 2024.

Jeff Hodge, the secretary of the EPCRLWA board, mentioned that he thought John Kuosman of Merrick should be introduced to politicians representing the EPCRLWA service area, such as Rep. Don Wilson, Sen. Paul Lundeen, and County Commissioners Holly Williams and Carrie Geitner.

The board voted unanimously to execute the agreement with Merrick.

Water quality tests proceed

Richard Hood, of JVA Inc., the company EPCRLWA has hired to assess water quality and design the water treatment aspects of the project, updated the board on the latest round of water quality tests. He covered tests of water taken from Fountain Creek in May and June. The quality was good overall, Hood said. He noted a spike in flow following a rainstorm that led to increased turbidity, higher coliform bacteria counts, and decreased alkalinity. He said these results were typical following a rainstorm. The pH in the samples was between 8 and 8.2 and the samples were relatively hard at between 200 and 220 milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate. He noted both iron and manganese were above the maximum contaminate levels for those elements. Total organic carbon, considered a measure of pollution since pure water has no carbon, has been measured at both high and low amounts, Hood said.

Kevin Brown to attend CWC

The board voted unanimously to pay for Kevin Brown to represent the project at the Colorado Water Conference, to be held in Steamboat Springs on Aug. 22-24. Brown is an employee of the Cherokee Metropolitan District, one of the four districts committed to the EPCRLWA along with Donala Water and Sanitation District, the Town of Monument, and the Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for Aug. 17 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held every Thursday at 9 a.m. at rotating venues. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

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