Riverton council backs applications for $10.4M West Main waterline upgrade; city's share estimated at $4M

The Riverton City Council on Aug. 19 authorized staff to apply for state funding to replace aging water mains on West Main Street and adjacent corridors, adopting two resolutions to seek program grants and low-interest state loans. The council approved a resolution supporting a Level 3 application to the Wyoming Water Development Commission and a separate resolution to apply for the State Revolving Fund loan program. City staff and consultants presented a plan to replace several cast-iron and steel transmission lines with a continuous new main (upgrading portions from 8-inch to 12-inch where needed) spanning from the YDOT shop near the west canal to below the hill near Third Street. The combined engineering estimate for the packaged work is about $10.4 million. Staff proposed pursuing a 50% WY Water Development match and a SRF package that could include a 22.3% grant portion with the remainder in a 0% interest loan; under that funding mix the city's net share would be about $4 million, payable over an extended loan term. Council members said the main drivers are reliability and fire-flow improvements: several breaks in older sections and limited valve infrastructure have left customers without service during repairs and created low-pressure pockets near critical medical and commercial facilities. Public works staff said valves and temporary bypasses would be used to avoid extended outages during construction, and the project timeline aligns with planned Whiteout/Main Street repaving. Council voted to adopt resolution 15-31 authorizing the SRF loan application and resolution 15-32 supporting the Wyoming Water Development Commission Level 3 grant application. Staff will submit the WYWDC application by the Sept. 1 deadline and continue design, funding packaging and coordination with state agencies.