Southern Colorado officials and community leaders gathered at the base of Pueblo Dam on August 19th to celebrate the beginning of major construction on the historic Southern Delivery System (SDS), one of the largest water supply projects under way in the western United States.
“This is one of the largest water projects to be built in Colorado in decades,” said Jerry Forte, Colorado Springs Utilities’ chief executive officer. “SDS is an investment in our community – one that will repay large dividends. Water is vital for our residents, and for businesses and new industries to prosper.”
The SDS project will serve the southern Colorado communities of Colorado Springs, Pueblo West, Fountain, and Security. With the ultimate capacity to deliver up to 96 million gallons per day, SDS will provide a stable supply of water for decades to come.
Starting in 2016, SDS will transport water from Pueblo Reservoir through about 60 miles of underground pipeline. The project’s first phase also includes three pump stations and a water treatment plant. Work on the SDS connection to Pueblo Dam and raw-water pipeline construction in El Paso County began this year. The approved budget for phase I of construction is $880 million (in 2009 dollars). Future phases will include constructing a terminal storage reservoir and exchange reservoir, as well as expanding pumping and water treatment capacity.
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