Water and prairie dogs discussed at Longmont City Council meeting

Longmont has “safe, reliable drinking water,” according to an update to the lead protection program presented to the Longmont City Council during Tuesday’s study session.

A recent water pipe survey found the city’s water distribution system to be “free” of lead water pipes, according to a city memo.

The city announced Oct. 16 that it has conducted a thorough investigation of the water pipes in the water system, led by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In January 2021, the EPA implemented revisions to drinking water regulations that required water systems to develop a water main material inventory by October 16.

The city’s Oct. 16 announcement stated that Longmont’s water system poses no risk of lead contamination.

The update provided to the City Council on Tuesday was intended to delve deeper into these findings.

The legal limit for lead in drinking water is 15 parts per billion. The council memo explained how “one part per billion is the same as adding one drop of water to a 10,000 liter swimming pool.” The council memo went on to say that the city’s lead concentration was less than 2 parts per billion, which is far less than the legal limit.

Of the 10 largest school districts in the state, only the St. Vrain Valley School District had no drinking fountains or sinks with lead levels of 5 parts per billion or higher, the council note said.

“You know, Longmont has safe and reliable drinking water. Our children are safe and … our staff will continue to be diligent in maintaining our system and sampling our water,” Longmont Technical and Operations Administrator John Gage said during Tuesday’s study session.

The water main investigation cost approximately $286,000.

In other news, several people came to the study session to express their concerns about the work being done at Dry Creek Community Park and its impact on wildlife, especially prairie dogs.

“The City Council must prioritize finding better ways to develop without harming our local ecosystems,” said Longmont resident Jaime Fraina. “You now have a chance to stop this and make things right.”

Earlier this year, the city announced plans to relocate a large prairie dog colony from Dry Creek Community Park to ready the property for park improvements, including: additional ball fields, a water plaza with interactive water features, a new playground, restrooms and park shelters.

The prairie dogs that were successfully captured at Dry Creek Community Park were moved to the U.S. Army Pueblo Chemical Depot in Pueblo.

The council did not directly address comments raised during the public comment period on Dry Creek Community Park.