Fort Morgan approves higher maintenance share for water pipeline pumps
The change reallocates costs for two pump stations. City Manager Brent Nation estimated it would add $20,000 to $30,000 to the city’s water fund.
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Fort Morgan City Council unanimously approved a higher share of maintenance costs for two pump stations on the Southern Water Supply Project pipeline at its Oct. 20 meeting. City Manager Brent Nation estimated the change would add $20,000 to $30,000 to the city’s water fund, during the council discussion. The discussion did not specify the period covered by the estimate.
The pipeline carries the city’s Colorado-Big Thompson water to its treatment plant. Nation said the original agreements were made more than 25 years ago, before the two pump stations were built. With both stations now built and available for use, Northern Water sought to revise how their maintenance costs are allocated, increasing Fort Morgan’s share.
The change concerns maintenance costs, not the city’s water diversion rate. Nation said Fort Morgan’s maximum diversion rate through the pipeline would remain the same.
The council also approved a 10-year extension of the Riverside irrigation and quality-water lease, through the end of 2039. Nation described the water as a drought cushion for the city and local industry. He said the extension includes a 5% escalator and that the Morgan County Quality Water District would also sign off on the agreement.