| Show Moab V Voters to Face Water Wafer Problems at al Polls Moab voters on November 7 will wilt be asked to consider a bond issue to to provide funds necessary for th the immediate solution of present and expected water needs The monies provided should voters grant the sale sate of the revenue bonds by Moab City would be us used d to avert a repetition repetition repetition repe repe- of of the dry days of 1961 and rind 1960 and also correct a presently dangerous sewage disposal dispOsal disposal dis dis- dis- dis problem This is the first of a series of articles on the historic and evidently eternal problem of water supply for a growing community The Problem In June of 1959 the City of Moab completed d a water development development devel devel- that theoretically could supply a population of people The theoretical conclusion conclusion con con- was based on the per capita consumption of water a at t the time Prior to the project Moab residents were consuming water water wa wa- ter At an p of nf 08 98 per person per r. r day days PH com compared pared fed to a nat ional of ll r s sp p day day- and a pre boom Moab figure of gallons gallons gal gal- lons Ions per pet day Part of the difference can c can n be accounted for by the fact that water was not readily available for us use T The project completed in 1959 was a first step in a long range planning program designed design design- ed to keep supply abreast of demand The The- project added to to supply and storage and met for forthe forthe forthe the moment the problem Just how this was accomplished will wilt willbe willbe be discussed in later tater articles The results of the project Included a lowering of fire insurance In Insurance Insurance In- In rates In recognition of the Improved system The Board of Fire Underwriters was was was' the investigative agency and made the new classification Another result was a jump Inper in inper inper per capita consumption It rose rose immediately to gallons per per person per day It was not extravagance extravagance extravagance ex ex- ex- ex but the normal l use of water allowed by the In Increased Increased in In- creased storage and supply With no change in population or use the situation was well Veil wellIn wellin In hand The 1959 project however was but one step In planning begun In 1957 and predicated on the assumption that Increased Increased in increased In- In creased use and city growth would follow The second logical step Inthe In Inthe Inthe the planning program called for forthe forthe forthe the full development of the Springs water source located north of Moab on US U.S. Highway Peak use soon demanded that this part of the Tw M T The e s p l-p project was ae- ae a ac- ac by by the installation of proper pumps and the construction construction con con- i of a thousand gallon gallon gal gat lon Ion water storage reservoir Th The Improvement was completed ed m in n July pf jbf 1961 making ef efficient efficient efficient ef- ef use use of the valuable source possible le b City possessed possessed pos pos- rights to one half of the cubic second feet emanating emanating emanating eman eman- from the spring A temporary temporary temporary tem tem- agreement allowed full use of the water last summer The full use agreement al although although al- al although though temPOrary was a lifesaver lifesaver life life- saver during the rainless days of June but still did not meet the vastly Increased needs of I the city Springs had one drawback drawback draw draw- back even when improved The storage tank is a surge sun e tank and was available for fire protection protection pro pro- only when power was I available Step three in the planning to meet possible growth was anticipated but not this soon I I Once again growth had overtaken overtaken over over- taken planning I Steps one and two of the thelong thelong long tong range pl plan had been constructed constructed con con- on schedule and had I met for a short time the needs of the city Step three Is a major undertaking undertaking un un- I and has as its background background background back back- ground six years of planning and water acquisition by Moab City It Involved water sources on the former Somerville ranch purchased In 1955 by Moab City Two springs on the ranch have already been developed and are supplying Moab via a ten Inch flow line constructed with federal help before the ranch property was acquired A project to further exploit the water sources at the ranch property was designed In 1958 It was not carried to completion completion comple comple- tion because funds were then not available and the need was not expected to ta develop until 1970 The major cost would be another pipeline necessitated by the tact fact that the ten-Inch ten existing line Is now carrying a maximum load This exploitation of ot flowing fresh water has been a long loag range desire Its reality or the development of other water sources closer loser to the city has be been n accelerated by the earlier than expected development of potash near Mob and a mild oil 01 exploration surge centering In Moab What will be done Is the prerogative pre of the voters The pro pro- blem lem Is with us now On that point we have little choice Clouding the issue unfortunately atey has been a pro and con crystal ball contest on the future future fu fu- fu ture size Ize of ot Moab In presenting the past and present water picture this series ser er ies les U is Intended to acquaint readers with the problem as U It Jt appears now row how it can be met now and what the suggested solutions will wUl provide |
