MARCH 17, 2025|
♣Photo♣- Rawlins Water Treatment plant sign – Bigfoot99 file photo
Water infrastructure work in Rawlins is set to begin next summer.
In March of 2022, decades of deferred maintenance caught up to Rawlins officials when the city’s water system suffered a catastrophic failure. For about a week, roughly 40% of city residents were without water. Everyone else was advised to boil their tap water before drinking to eliminate any harmful bacteria that may have entered the water supply.
In December of that same year, the Wyoming Water Development Office hired an outside contractor to perform an in-depth analysis of the city’s water infrastructure.
During the February 4th Rawlins city council meeting, City Manager Sarvey explained that the Wyoming Water Development Office discovered over $50 million worth of essential water system repairs. With a $48 million shortfall in the city’s water enterprise fund, Sarvey said rate increases will be necessary.
Residents have paid the price for the town’s poor plumbing. Since 2022, water rates in Rawlins have increased by 140%.
In its water master plan, the Wyoming Water Development Office specifically listed four priority one projects that should be addressed as soon as possible: revitalizing the Sage Creek Springs, repairing blow-off valves on the transmission line from the springs to the water treatment plant, addressing the high-pressure line running beneath Interstate 80, and replacing the city’s two treated water storage tanks.
At the March 4th Rawlins city council meeting, Vice Mayor Darril Garner asked City Manager Tom Sarvey about the status of the Sage Creek Spring revitalization project. Sarvey said the project design should be completed by the end of this summer. In the meantime, Sarvey said city staff will work to ensure continued flow from the spring boxes.
With the design scheduled to be completed this year, Vice Mayor Garner asked whether the Sage Creek Spring box project will begin next summer.
City Manager Sarvey responded that repairing the blow-off valves on the transmission line is the number one priority as Rawlins tackles its array of water infrastructure issues. The city manager said work on the spring boxes is unlikely to begin for another year.
Last November, Rawlins officials received a $2.8 million grant from the Wyoming Water Development Commission to repair the blow-off valves on the water transmission line.
Since last fall, Rawlins has experienced over 20 water main breaks. Until the entire system is repaired, a process that can take over a decade, city residents should continue to expect occasional disruptions in service.
