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Show MARCH TIMES - MARCH 1993 - 7 CV Culinary Water, Preliminary Considerations Over four months ago I made a commitment to study the feasibility of establishing a culinary water system for Castle Valley. This is a brief report on what I have discovered to date. The idea is to drill a high-capacity well into the aquifer near Round Mountain, install a sizeable tank there (30,000 gallon or so), put in a main line down Castle Valley Drive, and have laterals up each lane, with service to every lot. There would be no pumping costs, since the tank would be at least fifty feet higher than the highest lot. There are several State and Federal programs for assistance with such a project, since water development has a high priority in investment in infrastructure. I have found that the Farm Home Administration, for example, has a program which will cover the entire cost of the necessary planning and either horrible water, or very low production wells, or none at all. 3. I have surveyed the three largest insurance agencies in Moab for 2. Another argument is that property values will increase more few “grandfather” cases, houses here are all in the Class 10 basic rate category. Many companies will not insure Class 10 houses at all. Those that rapidly with availability of good water. This will mean higher taxes unless the County reduces the mill levy to offset the increased valuation. Such a move do require very high premiums. Here is (reducing taxes!) is indeed a rarity with all government As you all know, we are in the midst of a spectacular an example, averaging two company quotes: Amt/Insurance Clasle Class7 $50,000 $264 $162 $100,000 $374 $228 $200,000 $900 $551 A good estimate is that the change from Class 10 to Class 7 will reduce premiums by more than 60%. A culinary water system with fire hydrants at appropriate intervals, and moving our fire station to the Town Lot will entitle us to a Class 7 rating. For comparison, Moab has a Class 5 rating because of their sophisticated fire equipment. I believe the savings in insurance costs also subsidy programs, long-term, low water system. I will save $30 a month! 4. There are about 300 lots not yet for assistance. Naturally, there are major unknowns: How much water is available? How much will the development cost (a) to construct, and (b) to inflation of land values, without the promise of good water development, so I do know how much worse things would be with a water system. MY CONCLUSION Ibelieve that our best strategy is to investigate further—to take advantage of getting a good engineering study without cost to us except for the many hours of volunteer time needed, to discuss all the issues among ourselves, and to await better economic data before making any decisions. —Bill Viavant alone will pay for the capital cost of a developed. For new construction, I a I I / I / WATER from Page 1 estimate a cost of at least $5000 per well, with no assurance of good water. operate? What is the long-term effect on our lifestyle? All of these and many other considerations need to be A gross estimate of the costs of a municipal water system is less than half this figure, with reasonable prospect that much of this cost can be subsidized addressed by us, the people who now or by government programs. will later live here. I will give a short account of the positive and negative aspects that I have thought about so far. POSITIVE NEGATIVE l. I believe the principal negative argument is the philosophical one of resisting community development. I l have considered four broad points: vastly different with 400 medium to expensive homes instead of 150 mostly 1. Perhaps the most significant accelerate it. their Home Owner rates. Except for a engineering study needed before anything else can be done. there are interest loans, etc., which can be tapped see no way of stopping growth, andI agree that a culinary water system will surely agree that our valley will be one is that the Town of Castle Valley quite modest ones, and I like it better has senior water rights of several thousand acre feet which are at risk if the way it is now. The problem is that I These will measure how much water enters and leaves the valley, thus measuring the amount currently being used. This data will provide us with information as to how much water is available for development and what the impact of future development might be. What will Castle Valley’s future be? It will depend on water. Ultimately it always does here in the West. For now, well water is plentiful, the stream is rushing along. But we would be wise not to take the water for granted, here in this desert we call home. —Jil Kulander not developed. The state water board has indicated that they intend to reclaim unused water throughout the state, but John Groo has been assured that culinary water development would safeguard our rights. 2. As more and more homes are built, the risk of contamination from septic tanks increases. Already most of the lower lots have poor quality water, with several residents carrying water from Matrimony Springs or Moab for culinary use. And of course many of the higher lots below the Rim have Castle Valley Inn Lynn and Eric invite Castle Valley \ . residents to a SLIDE SHOW on their fl winter travels into Viet Nam and . 'L—~ ' Burma. WED., MARCH 24, 7 p.m. at the LDS Church. A Bed and Breakfast Eric Thomson & Lynn Forbes Thomson 801 -259—601 2 CVSFI 2602, Moab, Utah 84532 |
