System: Ranchview Estates Water District.

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                                                Agenda Mar 20, 2025

Date:  3/15/2025
Water usage:
The total was usage for the month of February on the domestic side of the system was 386,493 gallons for an average daily flow rate of 13,803 gallons. Looking back over last month this is almost identical in usage with an increase of only 50 gallons. This is very good to see because it indicates no substantial leaks within the domestic side of the system.

The flow for the irrigation side of the system is also very consistent with last month of 724 total gallons with an average daily flow rate of 25 gallons per day which is only 1 gallon per day more than last month. I feel very strongly that this is probably actual usage and there are no significant issues within the system.

Projects:

With the warmer weather approaching I will continue with the curb stop locating and mapping. I will be accessing peoples back yards to find the valves, I will knock on doors to try and make sure that the residents know who I am and what we are hoping to accomplish.
Sampling:

The monthly bacteria sample was completed without issue.

Date: 1/8/2025
Water usage:
The total water flow for the domestic half of the system through the water building for the month of December was 442,109 gallons for an average daily flow rate of 14,261 gallons. 

Date: 12/14/2024
Water usage:
The total domestic flow for the month of November was 409,104 gallons for an average daily flow rate of 13,636 gallons. This is a very similar flow from last month and is very consistent with previous years flows.

The total flow through the irrigation half of the system for November was 97,229 gallons for an average flow rate of 3,240 gallons. This is another sharp drop off in usage from the last month by more than 30,000 gallons per day but when compared to last year for November it is 90,000 gallons more which can be contributed to the warm weather.

Mapping Shutoff Valves

The Board of Directors of the Ranchview County Water District recently contracted with our water manager, Duncan Quigley, to conduct a mapping project of the shutoff valves for each property in the subdivision.  Each household has two shutoff valves – one for domestic water and the other for irrigation water.  The subdivision’s developer did not leave a map for these valves.  Some of the valves are visible above ground and others, we have discovered, are buried a foot or more underground.  The mapping project is a proactive effort by the Board to make sure we know where every shutoff valve is located so that we can shutoff water in the event of an emergency.  So, if you see Duncan in your yard trying to locate your shutoff valves, the Board wants everyone to know what’s going on.  If you have questions, please call Bob Bennett ((406) 422-9247) or Jim Oppedahl ((406) 431-6623) to discuss any concerns.  

Projects: via Duncan (well management) 09/16/2024

I have been locating the curb stops and main valves around the subdivision and have gotten the North side of Lariat and along winter wheat. I have switched the maps to a google file that seems to be easier to map and can give everyone access without having to keep track of a folder of maps.

Projects:
The lead and copper inventory report was reluctantly completed and submitted to DEQ.

Water usage: History

Date: 11/18/2024
The total domestic water usage for the month of October was 407,536 total gallons for an average daily flow rate of 13,146. 
The total flow through the irrigation system for the October was 1,076,989 gallons for an average daily flow rate of 34,741. 

Date: 10/17/2024
The total domestic water usage for the month of September was 466,742 gallons for an average flow rate of 15,558 gallons.
The total flow through the irrigation system for the Month was 5,281,714 gallons for an average daily flow of 176,057 gallons. 

Date: 9/16/2024
The total domestic water usage for the month of August was 521,419 gallons for an average daily flow rate of 16,819 gallons.
The total flow of the irrigation system for the month of August was 6,439,245 gallons for an average daily flow rate of 207,717 gallons.
For the year as a whole the total flow through the irrigation system has been 24,372,134 total gallons which is 4,000,000 gallons more than last year.

Date: 7/15/2024
The total domestic water usage for the month of June was 529,724 gallons for an average daily flow of 17,657 gallons. 
The total flow for the irrigation side of the system was 6,253,137 gallons for an average daily flow of 208,437 gallons. 

Date: 6/16/2024
The total domestic water usage for the month of May was 432,555 gallons for an average daily flow of 13,953 gallons. 
The total usage for the irrigation system is 3,877,354 gallons for an average daily flow of 125,075 gallons.

 *******WATER RIGHTS ISSUES*******

I have been in contact with Jim about some additional water rights that he was able to dig up. We have been going off of one water right (41I 88721-00) that allows for 25 Acre Ft of use for domestic and 85 Acre Ft for irrigation use. This was causing us to go right up to our allotment but the other right Jim was able to find (41I 89787-00) which allows for 83.75 Acre Ft for irrigation use only. I have never been able to find this right because it is assigned to two different names. But after looking into the paperwork Jim sent it was a concern that each right went to each set of wells. The way it reads is the 130 Acre Ft goes to the domestic wells and the 83.75 Acre Ft goes to the irrigation wells, however later on in the paragraph it says they can be used together. I did call DNRC to see how they would interpret how they were split up and was told since they are going to the same allotment they can be used together. Which is good news about bumping up against the water rights.