We are in the process of replacing our distribution system (underground water pipes) as well as possible additional storage for our Distribution System - the system of ~3.25 miles of mostly 2.5" galvanized pipes and pumps that bring water from the treatment plant to your lot.
Why:
There are several reasons for this:- The system was built in the 1970's and was intended to last 50 years, hence our pipes are nearing the end of their expected lifetime.
- In the winter we experience line freezing where they are not buried deep enough resulting in service disruption and expensive thawing operations.
- To try to prevent freezing, we bleed most of the water we produce in the winter, causing a much greater load on our treatment system and associated operating/maintenance costs. Bleeding at that rate could also potentially compromise the ability of MMWSC to fully utilize its existing water rights in the event of drought.
- We have minimal water storage capacity. Increasing it will allow us to provide water during maintenance or system failures, and better manage contact time with our treatment chemicals.
- Why now? If we wait until we have a system failure, it will be far more expensive than replacing it according to a deliberate plan. We may not implement the plan immediately, but we do need to create a plan.
This page will track the status and highlights of the upgrade process, and will be updated as significant events occur and milestones are met so you can follow along with us.
What has been done to date:
- September 2025:If you've tried to go around the Upper Loop, it's pretty hard to miss that the shovels have hit the ground and work is happening. After a bit of unexpected blasting at the beginning, the heavy equipment has been cruising around the Loop! We are still on track to complete in November.
- July 2025:Some pieces are moving forward: We have the first Notice to Proceed for the engineers to allow T&G Enterprises to start putting in the storm and erosion control, and this work has begun. We have provided the Blast Plan and the Blast Monitoring plan. We have the required USDA sign installed at the junction of Meadow Mountain Drive and South Skinner Rd.
And some pieces are needing a bigger push: We are still trying to gather all the BABAA (Build America, Buy America Act) certificates - this is an immense challenge, and we may need help. Barry is working with the engineers (CDL and HDR) to improve the Emergency Water Plan. - July 2025:
The ULU Project is ramping up! After a long, long, detailed pre-construction meeting on June 9th involving all stakeholders, tangible activity is beginning.
We have applied for the Boulder County permit, we have an approved traffic control plan, we have started fusing the sections of pipe, the contractor is working on getting the BABAA (Build America, Buy America Act) certifications, and a USDA project sign should show up any day!
We will be having bi-weekly progress meetings with USDA, and we hope to start digging in the next week or so! - May 2025:We have closed on the $2,571,000 USDA funding contract! This is the culmination of a decade's work by Rachel, current and past Board(s), and a major milestone in the Upper Loop Upgrade project. Now we can start digging - after we're done dancing in celebration!
Ok, party's over - time to pay the piper. As was presented at the 2024 AGM, a component of that funding is a USDA loan for $441,000 at 3% for 40 years. Repayment for the USDA loan will be billed to all lot members. We anticipate that billing to start with the next bill that you will receive in early July. The per lot quarterly bill will increase by $142 for all 57 lots. We will provide detailed calculations at the 2025 AGM. - July 2024:Bedrock depth drilling operations (that's heavy equipment poking holes in the road to help the engineers determine how much rock we'll have to blast for the new pipes) on the Upper Loop began on Monday, July 15th, and were completed on Wednesday, July 17th.
- June 2024: On 15 June 2024 a Special Meeting was called by the Board for all Members. The purpose was to have Members vote on resolutions to allow the Board to proceed with the USDA funding for the ULU Project. The resolutions were passed unanimously and details are covered in the minutes from that meeting.
The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment visit happened on June 12. The tour was very thorough. Pictures were taken of the inside of the Plant, the High Pressure shed, property surrounding the Plant site, and a couple of semi-official looking old guys wandering the neighbourhood taking pictures.
Verbal summary at the end of the tour: "Nothing here that should present any obstacle". We expect to receive the report in the second half of June. - March 2024: We finally got notice back from our USDA grant application! The details were presented in the March 2024 Member Update, which can be found on our Member Update page. Further details will be presented at the AGM in July.
- July 2023: This year's work on the Upper Loop Upgrade (ULU) project was presented by our Distribution Manager at the 2023 Annual General Meeting. Click here to view that presentation.
- July 2022: It's been a while since an update, but remember, there was a year or two that didn't exist due to the pandemic. We've bitten off one third of the project to begin with - the Upper Loop. Details of this phase were presented by our Distribution Manager at the 2022 Annual General Meeting. You can view her presentation here, as well as the financing possibilities.
- 2020: I don't exist. Put on a mask and come back in a few years.
- September 2018: The samples of our distribution system pipe, taken on the 19th through the 24th of September, have been inspected by the engineers Chris Lidstone and Ryan Duve from the engineering company Wenck. We are pleased to report they determined the pipes are in good condition indicating we have more time and alternatives than previously thought.
We do however need to do some maintenance. Mr. Lidstone at Wenck does see a need for periodic cleaning of the interior of the pipes, as some sections have increased tuberculation which speeds pipe decay. Part of the preparation for the pipe cleaning will be the installation of �portals� or access points spaced throughout the distribution system. We also are going to increase the system flushing frequency during the summer months when system flow rates are lower. The raw water supply pipes, made of a different material than the distribution pipes, are also being scrutinized due to their higher wear rate and tendency to become brittle with age. These are examples of the risk adjusted improvements that your board, engineers, and employees of MMWSC are planning. - May 2018: At the May Board meeting we selected an engineering firm: Wenck (formerly Lidstone). We will begin the contract process to get them started on creating a system plan that we can use to get contractor bids. It is necessary to have all of this in place in the event another Grant becomes available. This will include modeling our system which will allow us to explore various options for its replacement and adding storage.
- April 2018: Two engineering firms gave presentations to the Board. They have given us proposals for studying our system in order to create a contractor-ready set of plans for its redesign.
- Winter 2017/2018: Proposals received from engineering firms.
- Summer/Fall 2017: The Board of Directors prepared an RFP to send to potential engineering firms for system design. This was a request for a complete, contractor ready set of plans that would replace our distribution system below frost depth and looped. These are the plans we will present to contractors for bids.
- 2016-2017: Board concentrates on correcting everything possible in our system to set us up for grant success: Getting all meters working. Maintaining and protecting our water infiltration galleries. Sorting out RA ownership for possible storage tank sites. Getting our Bylwas and AoI in order and updated. Clarifying water rights. etc.
- Summer 2016: The Board initiates a special assessment of $3,000 per lot over 3 years to raise funds to help us qualify for a grant when available.
- Spring 2016: We did not get the grant, but we have a list of items to be done to be better prepared the next time a grant is available. A significant piece is having our share of funds on hand.
- Winter 2015/2016: An application for a grant for funding 70% of the first Phase of this project is created and submitted.
- Spring/Summer 2015: Rachel interviews construction firms to acquire ballpark cost estimates required for the grant application (these are not bids).
- Spring 2015: Grant becomes available and we decide to apply for it.
- Jan 2015: Lidstone provides a summary plan. (Note that this was NOT a detailed plan that we could take to a contractor to get a bid, nor did they do any hydrological analysis or modeling of a new distribution system.) We were advised to take pieces of pipe from the system.
- Summer 2014: Pipe depth survey done.
- 2014: RFP sent out. Engineering firms evaluated (5), interviewed, and one selected.
- Fall 2013: Create Request for Proposal for evaluating our distribution system.
- July 2013: replaced Stuart Environmental with Lidstone.
- In 2013: Recognizing that we needed a replacement plan, we obtained a grant to hire an engineering firm to assess the entire distribution system and propose a replacement plan to us.