Model Developed to Evaluate Capacity and Performance of the Pressurized Irrigation System

Earlier this summer the city hired Hansen, Allen and Luce (HAL) to develop a model to evaluate capacity and performance of the pressurized irrigation (PI) system under different scenarios. HAL completed this study and presented their findings in a town hall meeting on August 15. Some of the highlights of the meeting are as follows:

· Our current usage shows a very high water demand of 5.9 million gallons per day.

· Inadequate pressures and marginal water pressures exist throughout the city.

· Very high velocities in excess of seven feet per second occur in several pipes.

· If conservation goals were achieved, demand would be reduced to 3.5 million gallons per day, which would stabilize and improve water pressure throughout the system.

· The PI system appears to have adequate capacity for build-out, if water conservation measures are implemented.

· The Cottonwood Well, which provides culinary water, is frequently used to supply water to the PI system. In the hottest summer months, 100% of the culinary water from this well is sent to the PI system.

· With a culinary well failure, demand would need to be curtailed significantly.

· With a booster pump failure water could still be delivered, but water conservation would be critically important and there would be an increased probability of additional pump failures due to extended operation.

The entire presentation is available on the city’s YouTube channel and residents are encouraged to watch it.

City officials and staff recognize that the city must do its part in conserving water. Some of the more recent measures taken by the city include:

· Installing rain delay sensors at the major parks so the sprinkler system does not turn on in the rain or after the ground has received a significant amount of rainfall.

· Reducing watering times on park strips owned by the city.

· Reducing watering times at the golf course.

· Providing golf maintenance crews with technology that allows them to remotely control the golf sprinkler system so that it may be turned off during rainstorms.

Lower temperatures in September reduce the need for watering to approximately once per week. Adjust your individual sprinkler system and make it a habit to follow recommended watering requirements based on temperature, precipitation, type of soil, etc.