The RBWCD is continuing its pursuit of a rural water project to provide drinking water to residents outside the Town of Rangely. | COURTESY PHOTO
As you may recall, the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District (RBWCD) Board of Directors completed a beneficial initial step forward by finalizing a Rural Water Feasibility Study. This report found the project to be feasible with considerable benefits to our community. The project will provide a reliable, high-quality supply of drinking water to properties outside the Town of Rangely, that are not currently served by the Town’s water system.
Seeing the value of providing an alternate drinking water supply to our rural community, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) recently awarded the RWBCD a gracious grant awarded a $50,000 from for continuation of the rural water project. The CHFA grant has since been put to work developing the Preliminary Engineering Report and a Pipeline Pathway Environmental Assessment both of which are essential components for completing a USDA Rural Development and Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) financing application.
Over the next few months, RBWCD staff will be actively pursuing the completion of our USDA and DOLA applications for submission in the summer of 2022. During this time individuals within the proposed service area will be contacted by an independent contractor who will be completing an anonymous income survey. Your completely anonymous response to the income survey is necessary to establish USDA funding. The higher the household income the less grant funding available and likewise, the lower the income the higher the potential grant award amount.
Upon completion of the pipeline design, environmental assessment, and income reports the district will initiate a rate study. This study will be used to determine connection cost, monthly base rates, and user fees.
To learn more about the emerging rural water district please contact the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District at 2252 East Main in Rangely, call 970-675-5055, or email [email protected].
Special to the Herald Times
