Show C r 4 I If f r ri i rAS r 4 i 46 rr r 5 GROUND BREAKING ceremonies were held Monday in preparation on for the new Golden Age Manor which will be completed in December Joining in the event are Woodey and Vonetta Searle Serla O owners ners Kelly Crozier county supervisor Mrs and Mr Matt owners and Mayor Samuel Snyder housing protect H iI 11 I i I I ck Straws q By Jack Wallis Every y year ar about r t this time with the exception of last Jast year ear a discoloring takes place in iri the Vernal City water that resembles something more like ditch water thard inking drinking water This discoloration is is' caused by bya a fine sand that stays s suspended p in the water during the spring runoff high-runoff period when a large volume of water is coming down the mountain streams Last year because of the unusual small snow fall we didn't have any high water Those of oC us who have lived in Ashley Valley for many years have become used to the annual water problem but those who are new and those who visit the area as tourists are quite surprised To newcomers we apologize for the brown water and reassure them that it itis itis itis is perfectly safe and that it is a natural occurrence in this area when the mountain snows melt rapidly Many years ago the local residents used to brag that the Vernal city water came from a crystal-clean crystal spring and that the water never aver saw daylight until it came out of the too tap We still call the source of Ashley Valley water the Ashley spring but now the question raises is Ashley spring really a spring From the appearance of our water during the high runoff high runoff it is obvious our water is not clear spring water With all the stress on improving and protecting the quality of culinary water through the state tate the State Board of Health Heal and Utah Water Pollution Committee have told Vernal City that their water source is classified as surface water and not spring water as some of us timers old-timers used to call it it Tests have been made with dye Indicating indicating indicating in in- that Ashley spring water comes from a sinking process that proves it is not a spring but is a stream running through an underground formation and then surfacing again Well the big problem the area now flOW faces is eventually installing a water treatment plant somewhere In Ashley Canyon or Dry Fork Canyon We have been told this will cost 4 to 5 million or more Because of the extreme expense the treatment plant idea has ha been pushed aside as impractical We think the time is coming when the treatment plant must be considered Apparently this is the only solution to our annual colored water problem If as the technicians say a treatment plant is the only solution then plans had better be made for a plant to insure pure clear water for Ashley Valley As Governor Matheson emphasized in his Vernal visit last week Water is the key to the energy development of the state So is a dependable clear source of water essential to the growth of Ashley Valley With our larger volume consumption and Wand the future exchange agreement for forRed forRed forRed Red Fleet Reservoir water a water treatment and purification plant for Ashley Valley appears to be essential for the future growth of the area We hope the time is hear when we will not have to apologize for the ap ar appearance of water that comes from our ta taps t While on the subject of water we are very to learn of the problems the Upalco and Uintah Units of the Central Utah Project are having in receiving federal approval These two projects are essential in developing the water resources of the state particularly in the Uintah Basin These projects are essential to fulfill fulfil an agreement with the Ute Indian Tribe to replace other water taken into the Bonneville system To the local people the Upalco and Uintah Units are old projects and should not be considered as new water project starts that come under President Carters Carter's new sharing cost-sharing plan These projects should have been in the construction phase by now but because of federal rolling logrolling they are still stilt in the budget planning stages We hope our water leaders can an influence influence in fluence President Carter and the federal leaders to put back into the appropriations budget the Upalco and Uintah Ground breaking ceremonies were held Monday for Cor a new low income housing unit located at West North in Vernal Golden Age Manor will provide housing for the low-income low elderly The project consists of three 4 each unit will be a one-bedroom one apartment containing approximately square feet The apartments will all have stove refrigerator washer and dryer will be draped and carpeted The owners owners Mr and Mrs Woodey Searle and Mr and Mrs Matt have been working to get this housing for Cor the elderly into the Vernal area for forthe forthe forthe the past two years and have filed for additional 24 units to be built in the future The project is being constructed by Architect is Gabrielsen and Jones Ogden and the financing is provided by Farmers Home Administration Completion is scheduled for the first of December According to Mrs the units which will be available at that time are all aU already rented and there is now a awaiting awaiting awaiting waiting list |