Mike Lange of McGill Engineering outlined projected capital works required by Cherry Creek ACRD board members on Wednesday, March 8.

“Cherry Creek is hoping to obtain additional gas tax funding to complete as much capital works and water main replacement as possible,” Lange said. “Water infrastructure assessment identified that there’s approximately 18,000 metres of aging AC pipe (asbestos cement pipe) that needs replacement at a cost of $5 million. Cherry Creek has identified several projects that are already designed at a cost of $675 000 that they wish to move forward with if funding became available.”

Overall, there’s approximately 38,000 metres of water main in the Cherry Creek water system. Lange said of this, there’s approximately 18,000 metres of the overall pipe that is the original AC pipe and about 20,000 metres of polyvinyl chloride pipe (PVC).

“A large portion of the water distribution system remains from the original construction in 1958,” Lange said. “Since the original construction, Cherry Creek has completed various water main replacement projects, additions and leak repairs but they’re continually repairing the breaks and leaks in the old pipe due to softening and aging of the AC water main.”

Cherry Creek’s water supply comes from Cold Creek with head water storage at lacy lake. This distribution system services close to 830 residential connections and 44 commercial and industrial connections.

In October 2015, through the ACRD, Cherry Creek received an infrastructure planning grant. The grant was used to conduct a water infrastructure assessment that was completed in February 2016 by McGill Engineering.

“The assessment identified that the AC pipe is nearing the end of its expected life and should be replaced in the near future,” Lange said.

Cherry Creek recognizes this, Lange said, as they have experienced more and more breakages as years go by. The assessment estimated that the total replacement of the 18,000 metres of original AC water main would come to around $5 million.

“The assessment also identified several capital projects of higher priority that should be completed to approve the reliability and quality of the system,” Lange said.

Currently cherry creek is moving forward with one of the capital projects using their own funds that have been accrued by parcel taxes. They have completed the design for replacing the existing AC water main and looping the system on Moore Road from Cherry Creek Road to Cottam Road.

“The overall replacement length is approximately 515 metres and an approximate value of $175,000. This work would be competed this summer at the expense of Cherry Creek water districts,” Lange said.

Additional capital projects in the Cherry Creek area include the replacement of 500 metres of water main from Mozart Road to the motocross track at an estimated cost of $175,000.

In 2014, Cherry Creek was allocated $85,000 of gas tax money that was used to replace about 1,000 metres of this same AC pipe.

The next identified capitol project is the water main replacement on Cherry Creek Road form Morgan Road to Horne Lake Road.

“Today large sections of water main have been replaced on Milligan Road and on Cherry Creek Road at Cherry Creek’s expense,” said Lange. “These are the problematic areas.”

For 2017, the ACRD have about $1.2 million left unaccounted for in their gas tax fund.

“I’d like to move that we refer this to [Cherry Creek] electoral area committee,” said John McNabb, Beaver Creek director. “The gas taxes would be in the control and care of the electoral area.”

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