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Clive hears detailed briefing on regional water capacity, costs and irrigation policy options
Summary
City staff told the council Clive faces future peak-day purchase capacity decisions with Central Iowa Waterworks and outlined options for buying additional capacity (estimated $5.8'$5.9 million for a target level) and for managing irrigation demand through policy and conservation.
Pete, a city staff member, presented an extended briefing to the Clive City Council on June 26 about the city's membership in Central Iowa Waterworks (CIWW) and the need to secure additional purchase capacity to serve a projected buildout population of roughly 22,000.
Pete described existing arrangements and a near-term Sailorville expansion already under way, and said CIWW plans a regional expansion that could add about 15 million gallons per day (MGD) over several years. He warned allocations for that new capacity will be distributed among member communities and that Clive is not guaranteed timing or amounts without additional requests.
Pete's preliminary math estimated the additional cost for Clive to reach roughly 5 MGD of purchase capacity at about $5.8'$5.9 million. He emphasized that the estimate is early and subject to CIWW policy decisions on allocation and bonding. "If we get roughly 3% of that 15 MGD we hit our number," he said when noting Clive's relative share of the system.
Beyond capacity procurement, councilors discussed demand-management policy levers. Staff described irrigation-tiered rates already in place, soil health pilot work (SQR), and communications approaches with private irrigation contractors to reduce peak-day sprinkler loads. Several councilors said they were reluctant to have the majority of residents subsidize higher irrigation capacity for a small number of heavy irrigators; staff agreed such tradeoffs would be part of strategic planning.
Pete and staff said CIWW has begun design and early bonding steps for expansions and that staff will continue reporting to council as allocations and costs firm up. Council did not take a binding vote to buy capacity at the June 26 meeting; staff sought policy direction and to return with more detailed cost and allocation scenarios.
What happens next: staff will continue to work with CIWW, refine cost estimates and return to council with recommended purchase options, allocation scenarios and policy proposals to manage demand and peak-day exposure.
