Advantages of Updating Our Water System

• Increased flow:

As part of the system up-grades, the line sizes would be increased.  The increased pipe volume would provide additional water flow.  It should be noted that the water pressure would not be increased, only the flow, or volume of water.

• Increased fire protection:

By increasing the flow to the water system, we would be able to provide additional flow to many of our existing fire hydrants.

• Conservation of water resources by proper metering and replacing leaking pipes:

As we up-grade our existing water lines we expose the existing pipes and laterals. Often times we find waterlines and laterals which have actually eroded entirely through the pipe; one-inch diameter holes are not uncommon. We have seen in several locations where the pot-rock is actually holding the pipe together. By upgrading our system we will be able to eliminate many of the existing leaks. By installing meters at key locations, we will be able to better monitor the system for water leaks and account for the water within the system.
 

• Avoiding slight potential health issues through inflow contamination or pipe material:

When the water system is under pressure supplying water, water leaks out of the pipes and into the soil.  However, when the system is being shut-down for repairs there is the potential that existing leaks will draw groundwater back into the system which increases the concern for potential contamination concerns.

•   Reduced chances of frozen water lines:

By lowering the water pipes, there will be less chance of freezing on the City side of water mains.  In decades past, we didn’t have the equipment necessary to excavate into the hard pot-rock.  Therefore, the old City standard was to install waterlines five-feet deep, or until pot rock was encountered; many current lines are too shallow.  The current excavation technology allows the pot rock to be excavated so that all waterlines will be installed and covered with five-feet of soil.  This will greatly reduce the chance of the City water mains from freezing.  However, the City water improvements stop at the residential water meter.  If the water lateral between the water meter and the home is installed at a shallow depth, the lateral will still be prone to freezing.

• Road repair of trench area and possible total re-pavement from general funds:

The waterlines will generally be installed within the existing asphalt.  To allow the asphalt to be installed with the use of an asphalt lay-down machine, it is anticipated that the asphalt trench width will be eight-feet wide.   In conjunction with the water system up-grades, the City will evaluate the existing road conditions and determine if there is enough money in the general fund to repave the entire road.

• Coming into compliance with state standards:

The current Utah State Division of Drinking Water minimum pipe diameter is eight-inches.  Our current water system has several waterlines with a diameter smaller than eight-inches.  Each of the water system up-grades would install a minimum pipe diameter of eight-inches.

• Reduced Operation and Maintenance costs:

A large percentage of the Public Works employee’s time is spent repairing leaks within the current water system.  By up-grading the water system, employees’ time repairing the water system would be greatly reduced.

• Increased system reliability:

Each time a water leak is repaired, a segment of the water system must be shut-down.  By up-grading the system, the shut-down time would be significantly reduced which would provide a more reliable water system.