May 8, 2023 |
Photo – City of Rawlins Pre-Treatment Facility – Courtesy City of Rawlins
The City of Rawlins is asking people to conserve water while the pre-treatment plant is brought online, and its operation refined.
As summer approaches, city employees are working hard to revive the city’s two-decade old water pre-treatment plant. Rawlins Public Information Officer Mira Miller said the city is asking residents to avoid excessive water use while the system recovers following a successful test run of the plant.
Miller said at this time, the pre-treatment plant will mainly be used to remove suspended dirt and clay particles from the spring water.
Miller said to avoid unnecessary water usage while the city determines how effectively the pre-treatment plant will supplement the water supply. The public information officer said residents can find updated water conservation policies on the city of Rawlins website or by contacting her personally.
City officials say the pre-treatment plant for North Platte water was built in the year 2000 to address concerns about the taste and smell of the city’s spring water. Finding the proper mix of chemicals needed to correct the issue proved difficult. The city stopped using the plant after only a few weeks of testing.
The pre-treatment plant sat abandoned, unused, for 23-years. After last summer’s disastrous water system failure, city officials made bringing the pre-treatment plant back online a priority. The plan is to use water from the North Platte River to supplement the Sage Creek springs during times of excessive drought. Miller said the city will have a better idea of how effective the plant will be soon.
The city council has promised to hold a town hall style meeting to notify residents about future water restrictions. Miller said the meeting will happen in about a month, after the city has gathered more information.
Miller thanked residents for their patience and understanding while the city addresses its water infrastructure. The public information officer suggested people check their preferred news source for the latest updates on the water system.
Miller said the city is not asking residents to ration water in their homes. The restriction applies only to large scale water operations, such as irrigation.
Go to www.rawlinswy.gov/water or call Miller directly at 307-328-4500, extension 1022, for up-to-date water restrictions.
