Montrose, CO — City Councilors are considering a proposal to supply municipal water to the Riverwood Subdivision to improve the quality of life of the subdivision’s residents after homeowners there deemed their existing private-well water supply was unusable.
If the council approves the proposal, the work — a joint effort between the City of Montrose and Montrose County — will take place between March and August 2019. Councilors are considering awarding a construction contract in the amount of $411,809 to Williams Construction for the Riverwood Water Distribution System Construction Project. Homeowners of Riverwood have agreed to repay the city for the cost of installing the new infrastructure.
The 35-lot residential neighborhood, created in 1978, is located off of Marine Road outside the city limits in Montrose County. Although the subdivision is not located within the city limits, it is located within the outermost extents of the City of Montrose’s water service area.
Potable water for residences within the Riverwood Subdivision is currently supplied by a private groundwater well situated on property immediately adjacent to the subdivision. The lot and well are owned and operated by an out-of-state third party.
Many Riverwood residents have complained of poor water quality and reliability associated with this current private well system. Many residents of the subdivision indicate they are unable to use their water for drinking, cooking, or even bathing purposes, despite receiving notice that their water fees would be raised from $60 per month to $100.
In response to these water-quality issues, residents of the neighborhood have asked to change over to the city’s water distribution network located approximately 600-feet south of the neighborhood. The proposal would pay for the installation of city water infrastructure to the subdivision so residents there can begin to receive water from the city's water system.
City Councilors were updated during a work session Monday. At that meeting, a resident of Riverwood told councilors that she has been showering at the Montrose Recreation Center over the past year-and-a-half, and has had water system issues at her residence in Riverwood for the past two years.
“We are very excited to see this project going to construction and improve water quality and property values for the neighborhood. We wouldn’t be at this point without partnerships with Montrose County, J. David Reed’s law office, and the neighborhood,” City Engineer Scott Murphy said.
Homeowners wishing to change over to the City’s water system have signed repayment agreements with the City. According to these agreements, homeowners there would repay the actual waterline extension costs up to a maximum of $550,000 or $15,714.29 per lot. Owners may pay this upfront or make payments over a period of 20 years at four percent interest through an improvement district created by the City. The existing private water system will remain in service to serve those who do not wish to change over to the city system.
As of this week, 29 of the 35 households have signed up for the city water system.
The City of Montrose engineering department will perform contract administration and project management. In anticipation of this project, the City budgeted $600,000 using special improvement district funds. After design, water capacity fees, and construction costs, the total amount projected for the project is expected to cost $519,000.
As a partner in this project, Montrose County has agreed to repave all trench cuts along Marine Road and within the subdivision following installation of the waterline.
City Councilors will consider the proposal and formal agreement with the residents of Riverwood during the February 19th city council meeting.
For more City news visit: CityOfMontrose.org.