The Southwest Metropolitan Board of Directors recently approved a Capital Master Plan for 2019 – 2028. The purpose of the master plan is to itemize, prioritize and schedule water and wastewater facility expansion, rehabilitation and replacement projects to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of budgeting and cash flow analysis. The Plan enables the District to be proactive in confronting water and sewer system modifications and rehabilitation.
The 2019-2028 Capital Master Plan proposes expenditures of $243,001 in 2019 and $1,963,594 during the entire ten-year planning period. Two capital water projects are scheduled for construction in 2019 at an estimated total cost of $243,001.
The first project, CIP 19-1W, includes the replacement of 701 feet of 12-inch ductile iron pipe with PVC pipe and 40 feet of 6-inch ductile iron pipe with PVC pipe in S. Garland St. between W. Walden Ave. and W. Nova Pl. in the Meadows subdivision. Three water main breaks caused by electrolysis have occurred on this segment of pipe since 2007 with the latest happening earlier this year. The estimated cost of this project is $182,787.
The second water project planned for 2019 calls for replacement of 272 feet of 6-inch ductile iron pipe with 272 feet of 6-inch PVC pipe in S. Holland St. between W. Laurel Pl. and the end of the cul-de-sac. The estimated cost of Project CIP 19-2W is $60,214.
Eight water facility replacement projects are scheduled for construction between 2020 and 2028 at an estimated cost of $1,720,593. Total footage of water main to be replaced is 5,012 feet. These projects will result in replacement of: 433 feet of 6-inch ductile iron pipe, 152 feet of 8-inch ductile iron pipe, 260 feet of 12-inch cast iron pipe, 830 feet of 12-inch ductile iron pipe, 788 feet of 12-inch PVC, 2,549 feet of 16-inch cast iron pipe.
Water projects scheduled for construction after 2018 are subject to change due to the new rating criteria. Pipelines that do not experience continuing problems will likely be deprioritized for replacement at a later date or eliminated from the plan. Alternatively, pipelines that are on the plan and experience additional failures will be accelerated for replacement earlier than originally proposed.
With the completion of the multi-year cured in place lining of nearly all of the District’s concrete interceptor sewer pipe at a cost exceeding $10.6 million, sewer related capital expenditures will be significantly reduced over the next 10 years. No sewer asset or equipment capital projects are scheduled between 2019 and 2028.
Including the projected increases in the service fee in the next few years, the District will have sufficient financial resources to complete all the projects proposed in the 2019-2028 Capital Master Plan. The projected annual increases proposed in the District’s water and sewer service fee will continue to be billed by Denver Water on customer water bills. The future adjustments will enable the District to match operating revenue with operating costs and therefore avoid depleting the District’s capital reserve.
The entire Capital Master Plan for 2019 – 2028 is available on our website under Construction Corner.
