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Carbondale staff report major water and sewer projects, Neville Creek hydro restart targeted for spring
Summary
Town staff reported the Roaring Fork Well Field will require redrilling, a long Second Street sewer-main replacement is planned, a recent sewer backup affected basements, and the Neville Creek hydroelectric project and blower replacement are delayed but expected to come online this spring.
Town staff told the Carbondale Environmental Board that several utilities projects are underway and will affect town operations in coming months.
Scott Wenning, staff liaison, reported that wells in the Roaring Fork Well Field are at the end of their useful life and the town plans to redrill a well in June. He said the wells supply a main portion of the town’s drinking water but that the Neville Creek (sometimes referred to as Nettle Creek) source remains the primary supply in some seasons and the wells are run year-round to meet demand.
Wenning said crews will replace about 1,000 feet of sewer main along Second Street this summer, and that the sewer replacement quote for the project came in at roughly $1,190,000, “50% over engineered budget.” He also reported a recent, large sewer backup in town that caused basement flooding for some residents on Oak Run; staff advised residents with basements to check backwater valves, noting that a valve had failed to open in 1 affected home.
Wenning described work at the wastewater plant: a blower replacement is on order but is two months overdue; when installed it is expected to reduce electricity consumption. He also said the Neville Creek Hydro project is due to restart construction in mid‑April, with a control panel expected within 2–3 weeks and a hoped-for start in mid‑May.
Board members asked about whether a geothermal conduit would be installed as part of the Second Street work; Wenning said staff had removed that from the current contract because the upfront cost—engineer’s estimate “close to a million dollars with contingency”—would likely leave a pipe unused for years if the larger geothermal project did not proceed immediately. He said alternatives exist to add geothermal later without re-opening the full Second Street trench.
Staff also updated the board on the town’s water‑meter selection process: the town completed pilot tests and had requested final proposals from four vendors, with selection expected in the coming weeks. Grant funding availability may affect rollout timing; if grants are not available the town would phase installation over multiple years.
The board received the updates for information; no formal action or vote was taken on these project updates.
