Priorities for water sustainability and conservation were reviewed Tuesday by La Plata County commissioners, who agreed that public outreach is one of the next steps.
Adopting construction standards pertaining to new and modified domestic water infrastructure, creating incentives to support building and maintaining water infrastructure, educating the public and reviewing sewer and septic issues were among the county’s Water Advisory Commission’s recommendations.
The commission was formed in 2014 to assess the county’s domestic, commercial and agricultural needs, which are growing, particularly as smaller, domestic water systems are struggling and larger systems are unable to sustain them.
The water panel used questions from the county commissioners as guidance, which included whether La Plata County should operate water docks and purchase water, whether a countywide hydrological study would serve any purpose and if there is cause for concern about the water supply.
Implementation of water plans will not be a brief process, but setting construction standards and revisiting the county land-use plan as they relate to water infrastructure may be among the first steps, commissioners said.
Community outreach efforts to help the public understand its water systems and the importance of conservation are among the “lower hanging fruits,” as Commissioner Gwen Lachelt said, on which officials can take immediate action. Lachelt added that public seminars could include education on forming a public improvement water district.
One of the more challenging tasks will be amending county code to reflect a requirement that individuals and entities show “proof of water,” or that they have a reliable water source.
The commission also may examine adopting “1041 powers” to address the protection of agricultural water uses such as irrigation. These powers allow local governments to regulate matters of state interest, like water use, through local permitting.
Commissioner Brad Blake said he was unsure what the extent of the county’s investment should be in the water plans, but he liked the idea of La Plata County supporting grants that would bring new water infrastructure to the county.
“I think our first thing is to support water systems,” he said. “I don’t know what that looks like exactly. I don’t think we necessarily need to be in the water business, but we should be about the water business,” he said.
Commissioners first reviewed the report when Water Advisory Commission presented it in June, but preoccupation with the Gold King Mine spill on Aug. 5 postponed further discussions.
The work session came just as federal officials on Tuesday announced an initiative aimed at water conservation in the West.
jpace@durangoherald.com
