City of Rawlins Accepts Water Line Rehab Grant

MAY 15, 2025 |

Photo – Track hoe digs to water lines on Spruce Street – Bigfoot99 file photo

The Rawlins governing body voted earlier this month to accept State of Wyoming money to repair the city’s aging water infrastructure.

During the May 6^th Rawlins City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Steve Sanger presented a resolution to accept a level three construction funding grant from the Wyoming Water Development Commission. The grant funding will be used to rehabilitate, or replace, the cathodic protection system and blow-offs valves on the Sage Creek Springs water transmission pipeline, which brings fresh water from the springs to the city’s water treatment plant.

City Manager Tom Sarvey provided the governing body with background on the grant, explaining that last November, the Wyoming Water Development Commission authorized $2.9 million for the city to repair its water infrastructure. The state legislature approved the grant request during its March session. Sarvey said the city must now officially accept the grant money by passing a resolution.

The total grant request was for 5.6 million dollars– $5,670,000 to be exact—with the Wyoming Water Development Commission providing about half of that amount, or $2.835 million. Sarvey said the city must cover the remaining half of the grant match. The city manager explained he will seek funding from the Wyoming State Lands and Investment Board or the United States Department of Agriculture. If both options fall through, the city can allocate the money from its reserve budget.

The Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to approve the resolution to accept the $2.9 million Wyoming Water Development Commission grant. The passage of the resolution allows the governing body to begin requesting contractor bids for the Sage Creek Spring transmission line repair project.