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Carbondale staff report major utilities projects: wellfield redrill, Second Street sewer work and Neville Creek hydro timeline
Summary
Town staff reported plans to redrill a Roaring Fork Well Field well in June, replace about 1,000 feet of sewer main on Second Street, and target mid-May start for the Neville Creek hydro project; staff warned of a recent sewer backup, a delayed blower replacement and ongoing water-meter vendor selection.
Town staff provided an extended utilities update to the Carbondale Environmental Board, describing immediate work on drinking-water wells, a major sewer-main replacement and progress on a long-delayed hydroelectric project.
Scott Wenning, the town staff liaison, said the Roaring Fork Well Field requires redrilling and that the town has found two additional wells at the end of their useful lives. "We are replacing our well out at the Roaring Fork Well Field, and planning on redrilling that well in June," Wenning said, adding that the work and related assessments have become a large multi-year project.
Sewer and backups
Wenning reported plans to replace about 1,000 feet of sewer main along Second Street this summer. He also described a "very large sewer backup" that recently damaged basements on Oak Run and urged homeowners on the town sewer with basements to check backwater valves. Wenning explained how a stuck backwater valve can defeat protection: "One person had a backwater valve. So what happens is, you know, sewer backs up, its backwater flap opens and prevents any water from going back up ... And they had 1, but it stayed stuck down." Town staff did not provide a damage tally in the meeting.
Hydropower and energy projects
Wenning said installation milestones have moved forward for the Neville (also referenced as Nettle/Neville) Creek hydro project: the control panel was expected in "two to three weeks" and staff hoped the system could be started by mid-May. He also said a planned blower replacement at the wastewater plant remained delayed and "is two months overdue." Wenning estimated that the blower upgrade will save more electricity than the hydro project will generate in early operation, reflecting incremental operational gains.
Water meters, ditches and other items
- Water-meter procurement: Wenning said staff completed a pilot test and had just requested final proposals from four vendors; selection was expected in the coming weeks and rollout would depend on available grant funding.
- Ditch flushing and irrigation: The town plans an early ditch flush this spring with intermittent flows beginning the first week of April and aiming for regular flows by April 15.
- Temporary staffing and costs: Wenning said the town has about eight temporary staff working on utilities and public-works projects; he cited a Second Street sewer replacement quote of $1,190,000, noting a substantial cost increase over budget.
Questions and clarifications
A resident, Brent, asked whether the Nettle (Nevil/Neville) Creek system is the town's primary drinking-water source. Wenning clarified: "Nettle is the primary source. But we could not meet summer demand. We have to run wells year round." The transcript did not include a complete scheduling or budget breakdown beyond the items above.
Why it matters
The projects outlined affect town water reliability and road access along construction alignments, and the sewer replacement on Second Street will have localized traffic and property impacts during construction. Staff urged residents with basements on the town sewer to check protective valves and said the town is pursuing grant funding where available to reduce project costs.
