Triview Newsletter — September 2022

Final Route Selection for Proposed Northern Delivery System

As our long, hot and dry summer is winding down, we are continually reminded of our state’s most precious resource — water. We have previously shared information in this newsletter and on our website about the district’s focus on transitioning from our dependence on nonrenewable Denver Basin groundwater, which the district obtains through nine wells, to creating our own renewable water delivery system — the Northern Delivery System (NDS). Once it is operational, we expect that 80 to 90% of our water will come from renewable water sources, rather than relying on nonrenewable groundwater. 

The district has been working to obtain the water rights (and the water storage) that will feed the NDS. Triview has purchased or leased nearly 4,000-acre feet of storage in Big Johnson Reservoir, Stonewall Springs South Reservoir and a 40-year excess capacity storage contract in Pueblo Reservoir. In addition, we have purchased the rights to nearly 2,000-acre feet of water annually from Fountain Creek, the Upper Arkansas River Basin and the Lower Arkansas River Basin. The final step is the proposed construction of the NDS, which will bring renewable water to northern El Paso County. This robust water system includes a booster pump station, a 5.25-mile pipeline, and a tank to move potable water to the district. 

The district and its partners have explored numerous options for the pipeline and the ideal route calls for a section to be buried beneath Roller Coaster Road to Hodgen Road/Baptist Road before it turns west and ends by connecting to an existing district storage tank. Residents along Roller Coaster Road are expected to be impacted for about six weeks with partial road closures, allowing local resident traffic only. Access to Fox Run Park will also be maintained during construction. Overlay of Old Northgate Road, Roller Coaster Road and Baptist Road, along with new striping will take place once the pipeline is completed. While the inconvenience is expected to be short-lived, residents will benefit from road resurfacing and increased fire protection from the installation of new fire hydrants every 1,000 feet. 

The community’s input is critical, and we held our fourth public meeting on August 25, where the following details were shared: 

• The proposed NDS will bring renewable water to northern El Paso County, which will reduce our reliance on nonrenewable groundwater (the nine Denver Basin Wells) that is decreasing in quantity and quality each year. 
• NDS will improve water quality by providing clean, renewable treated water. 
• NDS will use both surface water and groundwater, which provides redundancy for the water supply, especially during peak usage times and periods of drought. 
• NDS will improve fire protection for areas along the pipeline route, including the construction of additional fire hydrants. 

Proposed Northern Delivery System Timeline:

• Fall 2022: A fifth and final public meeting will be held to share the final route and provide details regarding construction activities; the district will begin procuring materials and will hire a contracting manager and general contractor. 
• Q4 2022: The district will submit a planning permit to El Paso County; the permitting process should take approximately four months.
• Q2 2023: Construction is expected to begin and will take approximately 18-20 months.
• Q3 2023: Road resurfacing will begin and revegetation will take place. 

Learn more about the NDS and other Triview water projects at triviewmetro.com/water-resources

Regional Wastewater Cooperation

We’ve talked quite a bit about bringing water to the district, but there is also a need is to treat wastewater that has been used by residents and businesses. To that end, Triview and Forest Lakes Metro District have signed an agreement with Colorado Springs Utilities to move forward with the design of a regional wastewater project known as the North Monument Creek Interceptor (NMCI). The NMCI project will consist of a 10-mile pipeline to collect wastewater flows from Triview and Forest Lakes Metropolitan districts and northern Colorado Springs and transport the wastewater flows for treatment at the J.D. Phillips Water Resource Recovery Facility in Colorado Springs.  

This agreement allows both districts along with Colorado Springs Utilities to move forward with hiring a design engineer to begin the design process, which will take approximately one year. Construction is expected to begin in 2024 and is expected to be complete by 2025. This new pipeline will allow the districts to avoid the potential of costly regulatory treatment plant improvements at the current treatment facility, known as the Upper Monument Wastewater Treatment Facility. Ultimately the Upper Monument Creek Treatment Facility will be retired. In the long run this will save Triview and Forest Lakes residents a significant amount of money and will avoid the regulatory risk associated with operating a small wastewater treatment facility. By partnering with Colorado Springs Utilities, operational costs will be lower and the regulatory risk will be shared with a much larger customer base which provides our residents with more economic certainty. 

District Awarded Federal Grant

In other water news, we have been awarded a $1 million Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Investment grant as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. The funds will be used to build a tank at the B-plant that will provide treated water storage. Once the NDS is completed, renewable surface water from the Northern Delivery System pipeline can be blended with Denver Basin groundwater utilizing the proposed water storage tank. 

Pueblo Approves Triview’s Request for Water Storage

Triview Metro District received unanimous approval from the Pueblo County Board of County Commissioners for its request for a 1041 permit that allows Triview Metro District to store 999-acre feet of water in Pueblo Reservoir. This is significant as the district is acquiring renewable water sources for the long-term (reducing its dependency on nonrenewable Denver Basin groundwater), additional storage is needed to manage the variable demands for water
and to recapture the reusable return flows. 

The district has been working on this permit for nearly two years, first undergoing a yearlong National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to ensure there would be no environmental impacts on Pueblo Reservoir, the Arkansas River and Fountain Creek. Triview will be storing both surface water supplies and reusable return flows and will be delivering that water to Colorado Springs Utilities using Springs Utilities $800 million Southern Delivery System (SDS). 

Schedule Sprinkler Blowout

With the cooler evenings finally upon us, it is only a matter of time before a cold snap hits. Now is a good time arrange for you sprinklers to be drained. The district recommends scheduling the sprinkler blowout conducted by a professional, as any water inadvertently left in the pipes of your irrigation system can freeze over the winter, causing extensive damage. The same company can then prepare them to be turned back on in the spring and check for any broken heads or other damage that may have happened over the winter. Don’t forget to disconnect hoses from outside faucets and turn off the water too. 

Replace Your Water Meter for Free

If you are interested in saving money and protecting our community’s natural resources, have we got an offer for you: a FREE smart water meter. Every resident is required to upgrade to the new digital water meters, and we encourage you to do that sooner than later. 

The new water meters allow you to identify water leaks in almost real-time, saving you money and preventing the unnecessary loss of water. The new meter, including installation by trained staff, is FREE and takes only 20-30 minutes. Homeowners need to be present during the installation. 

To schedule an appointment, call 719-488-6868 or email us at info@triviewmetro.com.