Video Story
Watch VideoColorado Springs water bills could skyrocket
Story By: David Tauchen
Source: KOAA
Published Sun Feb 17, 2008, 05:56 PM MST
Updated Sun Feb 17, 2008, 09:09 PM MST
Drinking water at double the price. It's what Colorado Springs residents could pay to pipe water from Pueblo Reservoir.
"This project is really important," said Southern Delivery System Project Director John Fredell. "Our future depends on it."
Those skyrocketing prices are outlined in a study by the Bureau of Reclamation. It projects that by 2015 the average yearly houshold water bill could rise from it's current $307 to $693. By 2025 it could be $933.
"It's an investment in our community," said Fredell. He said a lack of local water sources and ever-increasing demand leaves them with no way around the price hike. For Colorado Springs Utilities, he says, there is no choice but to push forward with the project.
"If we want to continue the quality of life that we know and we want to continue a strong economy, we're going to have to make the investment in a water delivery system," said Fredell.
Despite extensive conservation efforts, Fredell expects the city's water use to soar. "With the expansion in ft. Carson they'll ad approximately 12,000 new soldiers by 2013, which when you count dependents is 30,000 people so we have a lot of growth within the community."
The Southern Delivery System is currently in a legal dispute over land use regualtions with Pueblo County. Their case is in the Colorado Court of Appeals. If Pueblo County wins the dispute, project managers plan to run a pipeline through Fremont County, a more expensive option.
