Rawlins Not Forecasting Water Restrictions This Summer

JUNE 5, 2025 |

Photo – Rawlins Water Treatment Plant – Bigfoot99 file photo

Decreased mountain snowpack has slowed the amount of water coming into Rawlins. However, city officials do not anticipate water restrictions on residents this summer.

During Tuesday’s Rawlins City Council meeting, Public Works Director Cody Dill briefed the governing body on the city’s incoming water flows. Dill reported that the snowpack in mountains that feed the Sage Creek Springs, which provides Rawlins with fresh drinking water, was lower than expected and melted sooner than anticipated. Consequently, the city’s flow of fresh water has decreased by roughly 2.5 million gallons a day.

To supplement the city’s water supply, Public Works Director Dill said he will explore restarting the Nugget Well fields. The wells have been replenishing for the past two years and should provide plenty of water for the city through the summer.

Later this summer, if water becomes scarcer, Dill said he may restart the city’s water pretreatment plant. The springs, well field, and pretreatment plant together should be able to provide the city with enough water.

Built in the early 2000s, the pretreatment plant cleans raw water taken directly from the North Platte River before it reaches the primary water treatment plant. Without this process, the siltier river water would clog the treatment plant’s filters. However, the pretreatment plant was hardly used in 20 years, reportedly only running for 7 days. Since 2022, the city has spent millions of dollars to bring the pretreatment plant back online.

At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, the Public Works Director reiterated that the springs, wells and the pretreatment plant should supply enough water through the summer. If restrictions become necessary, Dill said they will target irrigation projects, such as watering city parks, before residents.

With high mountain snowpack, the City of Rawlins did not issue water restrictions last year. Despite the reduced snowmelt, Public Works Director Dill said he does not anticipate imposing restrictions on residents this year as well.