Nye County - Town of Manhattan Water System Improvement Project - Preliminary Engineering Design
BACKGROUND
Gold was discovered in Manhattan in 1905. Mining started immediately and continued off and on in the area from 1905 to 1992. Manhattan had up to 2,000 residents during the peak mining times and as low as 50 residents during the low mineral price eras.
The water system was started in the early 1900s by the mining company that started the mine. A privately owned company operated the water system and assumed ownership of it in the early 1920s. A mining depression in approximately 1960 forced the private company operating the water system out of business. Nye County assumed ownership of the water system at that time, and has since been the owner/operator of the water system.
In the 1980s the water system started to fail and most of the pipes were corroded and leaking. Nye County applied for and received funding from the AB 198 program. In 1992 Nye County replaced most of the pipe and made other major improvements. This was one of the first AB 198 grants and there were no requirements for minimum water rates or to fund depreciation at that time.
Currently the population of the town is relatively stable at about 90 people with retired people and long time residents making up the population.
The town of Manhattan water system consists of one active and one inactive well, a 66,000 gallon storage tank and a distribution system of 6-inch and 8-inch PVC pipe. The Manhattan water system has had most of the pipe replaced, but there are other water improvements needed. The initial areas of concern are: 1) new water meters and boxes to facilitate a metered water rate; 2) a new storage tank and fire hydrants to address adequate fire protection; 3) a new water well for a second source of water; 4) pressure reducing valves; 5) a telemetry system; 6) a back-up power source; 7) a new metered water rate to help facilitate a healthy economic base for the water system. The active well has a current level of approximately 50 mg/L of arsenic and will not meet the new standard in January 2006. The well also has elevated gross alpha levels that fluctuate and have exceeded the maximum contaminant level at points in time.
A preliminary engineering report (PER) will provide an infrastructure plan that can be used to identify specific system deficiencies and the scope of system improvements needed to bring the water system into full compliance and to optimize the use of the water resource. The PER will also be needed to apply for other sources of funding other that the AB 198 program.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Nye County applied for a grant under the AB 198 program to assist the town of Manhattan with a water system improvement project preliminary engineering report (PER). The grant was approved by the Board for Financing Water Projects (Board) on October 19, 2004, for $34,000 (85% of the total eligible project cost of $40,000).
In November 2005, Nye County requested additional funding from the AB 198 program to assist in the completion of the PER for the Manhattan Water System. The PER that had been completed revealed a high probability or potential of virtually arsenic free water supply from the North Manhattan Spring (Slaughterhouse Gulch). Development of this spring is the preferred alternative to comply with the arsenic standard. On November 3, 2005, the Board approved an amended grant for $85,000 (85% of the total eligible project cost of $100,000).
The scope of the project is to prepare a PER for a water system improvement project.
PROJECT STATUS
The directional drilling of the North Manhattan Spring did not produce water. Currently, Nye County Public Works is test pumping a borehole in the town to determine the feasibility of drilling it to create a low arsenic and higher flow rate primary well for the town. A second alternative would be the possibility of acquiring a well from the mine.
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