CUP pipeline worries Springville

Published: Friday, May 22, 2009 4:27 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

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."

Story continues below

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

Recent comments

The central Utah water project was planned before Springville had...

Springville worry | May 22, 2009 at 5:45 p.m.

Send it to Delta first and then back with less pressure and water?...

DryRabbitt | May 22, 2009 at 4:55 p.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

This is what happens when we assume that we know what is best for wild...

To John Pack Lambert But see John, the way you phrase that, you make it...

"Yeah, Fox pushes an agenda, but it gets higher ratings because more people...

Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?

To the 2:31 commentator, No what Eddibly is saying is that IF you are a...

Lets not get all carried away and think that we should sign Boozer to another...

Funny claims from people... LDS people should tour the Egyptian relics in...

But if you require high schoolers to be proficent in math, what will the...

Why hasn't George been given his dues until now? The media. They drive the...

Mathews helps play some defense

were effective. Fez played 12 minutes. Okur did make some 3s. When Boozer is...

Do I smell a repeat of 1950? I hope so. The US needs to bring their A game...

Advertisements