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Sedalia plans $8.3 million overhaul after aquifer decline, seeks emergency pipeline tie-in
Summary
Sedalia Water and Sanitation District told the Douglas County providers group it will replace aging pipes and the historic tank with an $8.3 million phase‑1 project funded by a USDA grant/loan and a Douglas County ARPA grant; hydrologic work shows its aquifers may have only seven to 10 years of viable yield, prompting emergency and long‑term connections with regional suppliers.
Mary Castle, representing Sedalia Water and Sanitation District, told the Douglas County meeting that the district plans a full infrastructure replacement after decades of failing facilities and accelerating leaks.
"We have a water tank that's over 130 years old," Castle said, and she described mains and service lines installed in the 1950s and 1960s that frequently disintegrate when excavated. She told commissioners that leak‑related costs rose to about $115,000 in 2021 after totaling roughly $37,000 in the prior seven years.
Castle said Sedalia has funding totaling $8,300,000 for phase 1: a USDA grant/loan package and a Douglas County ARPA grant. "We have our USDA grantloan for $5,600,000 and we have our Douglas County ARPA grant for $2,600,000," she said. The district has completed design and received bids; eight contractors submitted bids and the district is negotiating with a selected contractor with construction expected to start in July or August.
A critical component of phase 1 is an emergency connection to the Eastern regional pipeline provided by Dominion Water. Castle said the connection is designed for emergencies now but is being built on permanent infrastructure so it can support a future renewable wholesale supply. "Our phase 1 has a connection to that Eastern regional pipeline," she said, adding that the emergency connection is part of the pathway toward a permanent solution with Dominion or Castle Rock Water.
Castle also described new hydrologic analysis showing faster‑than‑expected aquifer declines. "We discovered just last year that our aquifers have seven to 10 years left," she said, a change from earlier estimates of 40–50 years. Castle said the district operates primarily on one Arapahoe well and two alluvial wells that are mainly used for augmentation; pump failures and iron fouling have shortened pump life and increased maintenance costs.
Commissioners pressed for technical details. Castle said the district uses filtration and chlorination for the alluvial wells, but the filters foul quickly and costly rehabs have failed in the past; current annual use is about 40–45 acre‑feet. The district is pursuing conversations and agreements with Dominion and Castle Rock Water about permanent wholesale options, and it has engaged Hazen and Sawyer to complete a growth‑planning and rate‑analysis study to inform long‑term decisions.
Former USDA state program director Jim Morris congratulated Sedalia on securing an unusually large USDA award, which he said is rare for small rural districts. Castle credited USDA staffer Allison Trujillo for helping secure the grant and loan package.
The commission did not take a formal vote on Sedalia's plan during the meeting; presenters agreed to share technical studies and the draft growth‑and‑rate analysis with the commission for follow‑up.
The commission asked for copies of the presentation materials and supporting studies; Castle agreed to provide those documents.
