Overview

The City of Laramie needs to make significant improvements in it's water and wastewater infrastructure.

Within the water system:

  • 260 miles of pipeline to be maintained
  • 15 miles installed prior to 1928, most installed before 1950
  • Majority of system is cast-iron pipe
  • Soils in Laramie are corrosive to metal pipe
  • Minimum benchmark for replacement is 4 miles per year
  • Average replacement has been 1 mile per year

Within the wastewater system:

  • 160 miles of wastewater pipe to be maintained
  • Age of pipe mirrors the water system, most installed prior to 1950
  • Minimum benchmark for replacement is 3.5 miles per year
  • Replacement rate has been less than 1 mile per year

The cost of infrastructure

Following a competitive RFP process, in August 2008 the City of Laramie engaged Red Oak Consulting (Red Oak) to conduct a water and wastewater cost of service rate study.  Red Oak’s scope also included identification and comparison of the City’s utility performance against industry benchmarks, and facilitation of stakeholder committee meetings.

The utility financial plan indicated the need to increase water and sewer revenues between 15 and 20 percent annually over the next five years – through 2013.  Such increases are required to fund increasing operations and maintenance expenses, fund the capital replacement program, satisfy debt service coverage requirements, and provide adequate reserves.  Additional revenue requirements will, in turn, result in the need for annual increases in water and sewer rates.

More detailed information is available within these web pages and on the City’s public works department, utility division, website.