CUP pipeline worries Springville

SPRINGVILLE — Construction of a massive pipe designed to transport water from Strawberry Reservoir via Diamond Fork Canyon to Salt Lake City is worrying Springville city officials and folks who live along 400 East.

The plan is part of the Central Utah Project.

"This is frightening. It can be dangerous for the whole city," Mayor Gene Mangum said during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Though still in the design stage, work crews could start as early as November digging a trench from one end of 400 East to the other to lay the 5-foot-high, pressurized water pipe. No delivery points for Utah County cities are expected.

Springville has just two north-south thoroughfares — 400 East and Main Street.

A major concern is the stability of the pipe. The Central Utah Water Conservancy District has assured city officials the risk is low, but that hasn't eased the worry.

"If that pipeline ever broke, this area would look like New Orleans after Katrina," said Randy Croft, who lives on 400 East.

"(The water pipe is under) very high pressure and could do substantial damage," city administrator Troy Fitzgerald said.

"We're continuing to work with Springville," said Chris Finlinson, spokeswoman for the water conservancy district. "We wouldn't build a facility that wasn't completely safe."

Springville city leaders and residents are also concerned about the possibility that utilities to every house along 400 East may have to be moved to allow for the pipeline. Some are old and could fail when the street is opened up. Officials are also concerned about the impact the construction could have on utilities that cross the street.

The project is being partially funded by $41 million in federal economic stimulus money.

"I agree it's scary," Councilman Ben Jolley said. "It's interesting how they're driving it because they need to spend some money."

The stimulus money did speed up the project, Finlinson said. However, federal authorities don't yet have an engineer's estimate to know how much it will cost, she said.

City officials are talking with officials from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Water Conservancy District to get the best deal they can. But the city's negotiating power isn't much better than anyone else in dealing with the federal government, Fitzgerald said.

The pipeline also will go through Mapleton and Provo on both sides of Springville.

E-mail: rodger@desnews.com