Dry winter conditions coupled with high demand have caused East Carbon officials to seek immediate action concerning the area's water supply. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to conduct an expedited joint meeting with Sunnyside to discuss water issues after a bleak presentation by local water officials.
According to East Carbon maintenance employees Bert Krauss and Tracy Robinson, the city's reservoir is down 117 inches or about nine feet based on measurements recently taken from the lake's spillway. Last year at this time, the spillway was down approximately 68 inches.
Further reports from the pair showed that annual snowfall is down 16.5 inches from October to December compared to numbers recorded in 2010. Additionally, snowpack at the reservoir has dwindled from 56 inches just two years ago to three inches currently.
Using measurements and photos, the city employees demonstrated that the reservoir's lower left hand fork flume is bringing in about 80 gallons per minute of water to the mountain lake. Grassy Trail's upper flume is currently dry, a situation that is ominous for several reasons.
The reservoir's right hand flume is delivering around 120 gallons per minute to the Grassy Trail Reservoir and is currently the lake's major source of replenishment.
According to Krauss, this water is being lost two miles downstream as the water is absorbed by arid Castle Country soil.
East Carbon officials have already applied to the Permanent Community Impact Board for funding needed to develop the water source and move the water into Grassy Trail or directly into the city's water treatment system.
The project was rejected by the board in late 2011, when Sunnyside officials removed the city from the project's application due to a lack of communication between the two cities. Both towns have justified their actions involving the first application which was re-submitted following a joint council session. This delay amounts to millions of lost gallons of water. Sun Advocate
Showing posts with label Utilities. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Utilities. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Project for Re-development of Rilda Springs in Emery County
North Emery Water Special Service District has spent some time this fall redeveloping the Rilda Springs in Huntington Canyon. These springs are the primary source of water for the North Emery culinary water system which serves northern Emery County. The project is being completed with grant and loan money from the CIB.
The Rilda Project by North Emery Water Users has been a long time coming. Rilda was originally developed in about 1971 as North Emery was being formed as a private company. The spring has had several maintenance projects over the years to keep the spring functional, but none of the previous projects were funded enough to capture all of the water that is available at the spring.
The location of the Rilda Springs is located on property that was originally a coal mine from the 1940s to the 1960s. As a result of this early mining activity, redevelopment of the site is challenging. There are topsoil piles from the mines that have to be avoided and they always have to be on the lookout for other challenges that the mining has created.
The current project will allow the District to replace all of the aging perforated pipe in the system and to build new underground bentonite dams to ensure the water is directed to the water collection pipes. In addition, the transmission pipes in the spring area are being re-aligned to match the new collection acres. Finally, new collection boxes and modern man holes are being added to provide better access to the spring collection acres for regular maintenance.
The Rilda Spring redevelopment project is the first of a two phase project that was funded by the CIB. The second phase will be a new pipeline project in between Lawrence and Cleveland to increase flows in the system and to provide redundancy to users of the system. The second phase should be completed in the first half of 2013. The total CIB package that was funded included a $200,000 loan and a grant of approximately $1 million. Emery County Progress
The Rilda Project by North Emery Water Users has been a long time coming. Rilda was originally developed in about 1971 as North Emery was being formed as a private company. The spring has had several maintenance projects over the years to keep the spring functional, but none of the previous projects were funded enough to capture all of the water that is available at the spring.
The location of the Rilda Springs is located on property that was originally a coal mine from the 1940s to the 1960s. As a result of this early mining activity, redevelopment of the site is challenging. There are topsoil piles from the mines that have to be avoided and they always have to be on the lookout for other challenges that the mining has created.
The current project will allow the District to replace all of the aging perforated pipe in the system and to build new underground bentonite dams to ensure the water is directed to the water collection pipes. In addition, the transmission pipes in the spring area are being re-aligned to match the new collection acres. Finally, new collection boxes and modern man holes are being added to provide better access to the spring collection acres for regular maintenance.
The Rilda Spring redevelopment project is the first of a two phase project that was funded by the CIB. The second phase will be a new pipeline project in between Lawrence and Cleveland to increase flows in the system and to provide redundancy to users of the system. The second phase should be completed in the first half of 2013. The total CIB package that was funded included a $200,000 loan and a grant of approximately $1 million. Emery County Progress
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Power plant's lack of 'elbow room' means likely shutdown in 2015
One of Utah's most prominent industrial landmarks may be on the verge of a permanent shutdown, done in by its own scenic setting.
Rocky Mountain Power has warned employees and public officials to expect the likely closure of the company's Carbon Power Plant in the next two to three years.
The plant is one of Rocky Mountain Power's most visible facilities. It's in a narrow, twisty canyon known as Castle Gate, north of Helper at the junction of U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 191. Thousands of drivers pass by the plant every day as they travel between Price and Provo.
The Carbon Power Plant was built in the canyon in the 1950s because there is a healthy supply of coal nearby. But now, hemmed in by cliffs and highways, it doesn't have enough elbow room to expand. That means the company may be unable to install equipment to bring the plant in line with federal clean air regulations.
A cleanup deadline is looming in the year 2015 for reductions in emissions of mercury, nitrogen-oxides, sulfur-dioxide and particles of ash.
Rocky Mountain Power is still looking for alternative technologies that might allow the plant to meet federal regulations. But the prospects don't look good.
The probable closure is "not a pleasant prospect for the state of Utah," said Carbon County Commissioner John Jones. "I mean it's not only going to affect us, but you're going to see the economy across the state affected."
Although the plant shutdown in 2015 now seems more likely than ever, company officials emphasize they have not made a final decision. That's expected to be made next April. Deseret News
Rocky Mountain Power has warned employees and public officials to expect the likely closure of the company's Carbon Power Plant in the next two to three years.
The plant is one of Rocky Mountain Power's most visible facilities. It's in a narrow, twisty canyon known as Castle Gate, north of Helper at the junction of U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 191. Thousands of drivers pass by the plant every day as they travel between Price and Provo.
The Carbon Power Plant was built in the canyon in the 1950s because there is a healthy supply of coal nearby. But now, hemmed in by cliffs and highways, it doesn't have enough elbow room to expand. That means the company may be unable to install equipment to bring the plant in line with federal clean air regulations.
A cleanup deadline is looming in the year 2015 for reductions in emissions of mercury, nitrogen-oxides, sulfur-dioxide and particles of ash.
Rocky Mountain Power is still looking for alternative technologies that might allow the plant to meet federal regulations. But the prospects don't look good.
The probable closure is "not a pleasant prospect for the state of Utah," said Carbon County Commissioner John Jones. "I mean it's not only going to affect us, but you're going to see the economy across the state affected."
Although the plant shutdown in 2015 now seems more likely than ever, company officials emphasize they have not made a final decision. That's expected to be made next April. Deseret News
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Helper's massive rebuild proposal gets CIB approval
Helper City is in line for what may be the largest single commitment of funds in the history of the state's Permanent Community Impact Board.
It is a $19.5 million package of grants and loans to rebuild the city's aging water, sewer and stormwater systems, and to repave the streets when the underground work is done.
"We were all shocked," announced Mayor Dean Armstrong, speaking of the delegation of city officials and engineering consultants who got the word Thursday morning at the board meeting. Sun Advocate
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