(MUSIC PLAYING) - I'VE BEEN BUYING WATER PROBABLY FOR 30 YEARS.

THEY SAID THAT OUR WATER IS NOT EVEN SAFE FOR COOKING.

IN MOST PLACES, IF YOU BOIL THE WATER, IT'S SAFE.

IN THIS CASE, EVEN IF YOU BOIL IT, IT'S NOT SAFE.

- YOU SURELY CAN'T DRINK THE WATER COMING OUT OF THE FAUCET.

- WELL, IT KIND OF MAKES YOU ANGRY.

YOU PAY FOR THE WATER TO COME IN YOUR HOUSE, BUT STILL YOU HAVE TO GET JUGS AND PAY MORE TO GET WATER TO DRINK.

I LOVE IT HERE, BUT I AM REALLY CONSIDERING MOVING.

- WITH MY AGE IT'S GETTING HARDER.

THEY'RE HEAVY.

IT'S PART OF A ROUTINE THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED AND DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

- I HEAR THIS OFTEN THAT, WELL, PEOPLE HAVE DRANK THIS WATER FOR YEARS.

YEAH, THEY HAVE.

AND THERE'S NO QUESTION; THERE'S BEEN HEALTH CONSEQUENCES.

WITHOUT GOOD, CLEAN, SAFE DRINKING WATER, THESE COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO DETERIORATE.

- THE PIPELINE WAS PROMISED TO THE ARK VALLEY PEOPLE IN THE 1960S.

AND SO BASICALLY MY ENTIRE LIFETIME I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS PIPELINE.

AND WE'RE PROBABLY A GOOD 10 YEARS, MAYBE EVEN 20 YEARS BEFORE IT GETS TO US.

- GET YOUR WATER, GET YOUR WATER FOR THE MORNING START THERE.

- RURAL AMERICA IS STILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR COUNTRY.

AND IN MY VIEW IN SOME WAYS BEING NEGLECTED.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP.

I MEAN, THIS IS A NECESSARY PROJECT FOR THE FUTURE OF THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY IN COLORADO.

AND WE WILL GET THERE.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - I'M JUST GOING TO FILL UP THE WATER JUGS.

I'VE LIVED IN ROCKY 17 YEARS.

AND I THINK PROBABLY ABOUT THE FIFTH YEAR IN, I STARTED TO QUESTION WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE WATER.

AND THIS ONE'S A LITTLE FRUSTRATING BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT'S ONLY TAKING THE EXACT CHANGE.

SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT OR YOU HAVE TO GO INSIDE.

- HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER BEA JAE VIESCAS REFILLS WATER JUGS AT A FILTERED WATER STATION NEAR HER HOME EVERY TWO WEEKS.

SHE GIVES THE WATER TO HER DOGS AND ALSO USES IT TO COOK.

- I HAVE BOTTLED WATER THAT I KEEP TO DRINK.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT I TALK TO DO THE SAME.

SOME KIND OF WATER BOTTLE OR WATER STATION.

- LIKE A LOT OF HER NEIGHBORS, BEA JAE DOESN'T TRUST THE TAP WATER IN ROCKY FORD.

THE SMALL EASTERN COLORADO TOWN WHERE SHE LIVES.

- THE BIGGEST REASON THAT I CHOSE TO QUIT DRINKING THE WATER HERE IN ROCKY FORD WAS THE INCREASE OF CANCER IN A SMALL TOWN.

IN 2010, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE THAT I KNEW THAT HAD CANCER.

WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS, THERE WAS LIKE 12 THAT HAD CANCER.

WELL, AT FIRST, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF JOKE, OH, IT'S IN THE WATER, LIKE PREGNANCY, RIGHT?

BUT THEN IT'S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE BECAUSE IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE IN THE WATER.

- THE U.S.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, OR EPA, HAS BEEN SETTING SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS SINCE 1974.

AND ROCKY FORD DOESN'T CURRENTLY VIOLATE ANY STANDARDS.

AND HASN'T FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

BUT EPIDEMIOLOGIST TIFFANY SANCHEZ SAID THE WATER REPORTS STILL RAISE SOME RED FLAGS.

- ONE THING THAT STRIKES ME IS THE COMBINED URANIUM LEVELS.

THEY'RE NOT IN ANY VIOLATION.

BUT WE DO SEE ON THE RANGE ANYWHERE VARYING BETWEEN 10.6 PARTS PER BILLION TO 36.3 PARTS PER BILLION.

SHOWING THAT IT IS ON THE HIGHER LEVELS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS BELOW THE FEDERAL STANDARD.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT URANIUM, YOUR FIRST THOUGHT MIGHT BE TO GO TO, OH, RADIOACTIVE, LIKE IT'S GOING TO CAUSE CANCER.

WHAT'S REALLY INTERESTING ABOUT URANIUM IS THAT IT ALSO HAS HEALTH EFFECTS THAT ARE RELATED TO NON-CANCEROUS OUTCOMES, IN PARTICULAR, THE KIDNEY.

SO WE'VE LEARNED THAT EVEN AT LEVELS OF EXPOSURE BELOW THE EPA STANDARD, WE SEE THAT WATER URANIUM IS ASSOCIATED WITH ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE KIDNEY.

- OF 38 COMMUNITIES IN THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY, 17 ARE ABOVE EPA STANDARDS FOR RADIONUCLIDES LIKE URANIUM AND RADIUM.

BUT THERE'S BEEN NO CLINICAL STUDIES DONE LINKING THE WATER TO PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS.

AND MANY RESIDENTS REMAIN CONCERNED.

- WHEN YOUR FEAR DRIVES YOU, FEAR CAN DRIVE YOU TO DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.

I USE THE TAP WATER FOR WASHING THE DISHES AND SHOWERING.

I USE THE WATER STATION FOR THE DOGS AND I USE IT FOR COOKING.

ROMEO, YOU'RE MAKING A MESS, DOGGY.

NO, NO, NO.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S A HASSLE, IT BECOMES A HABIT.

I NOTICE IN THE BATHROOM WHEN YOU TURN ON THE WATER... AFTER IT'S BEEN SHUT OFF FOR A WHILE, YOU LET IT RUN A LITTLE BIT AND THERE'S THAT SEDIMENT IN IT.

SO I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT'S COMING FROM.

WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE SHOWER HEAD FOUR OR FIVE TIMES.

CLEAN WATER IS VITAL TO ANY COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO HELP CLEAN UP OUR WATER IS VITAL.

- TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY FACES SO MANY WATER CHALLENGES, WE MET UP WITH CHRIS WOODKA AT THE SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.

- THERE'S TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE DRINKING WATER IN THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY.

THE SHALLOWER WELLS ARE IN AN ALLUVIAL AQUIFER, AND IN THAT AQUIFER, YOU GET HEAVY METALS LIKE IRON, MANGANESE, SELENIUM, AND THAT CREATES AN ISSUE WITH THE TASTE QUALITY OF DRINKING WATER.

THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE DEEP AQUIFERS GO INTO SHALE FORMATIONS THAT HAVE NATURALLY OCCURRING CONCENTRATIONS OF URANIUM, RADON, AND OTHER RADIONUCLIDES THAT TEND TO BE THE PROBLEM FOR MANY OF THE WATER COMPANIES DOWN THERE.

THEY EXCEED STATE LIMITS OF THOSE RADIONUCLIDES.

AT VARIOUS LEVELS, THEY BECOME MORE OF A HEALTH RISK.

- RADIUM EXPOSURE, THE BIGGEST HEALTH EFFECT OF CONCERN IS CANCER.

AND IF YOU'RE DRINKING HIGH LEVELS OF RADIUM, IS THAT ASSOCIATED WITH BONE CANCER?

AND JUST IN GENERAL, LIFETIME RISK OF CANCER.

- THE WATER CHALLENGES IN THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY REGION HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THEM, THE PROBLEMS REMAIN.

- AS FAR BACK AS 1930, THERE WAS A REALIZATION THAT THE WATER QUALITY IN THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY, AND THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY BEING BELOW PUEBLO, WAS QUESTIONABLE AND NOT NECESSARILY DESIRABLE.

BUT PEOPLE LIVED WITH IT.

BUT AS TIME PASSED, FOLKS WORKED TO CORRECT THAT SITUATION.

- THE SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT FORMED IN 1958 TO BRING CLEAN WATER FROM THE WESTERN SLOPE TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN OUT EAST.

AND ADDRESS BOTH WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY ISSUES.

- PUEBLO WAS A GROWING COMMUNITY, SO BRINGING MORE WATER IN WAS SEEN AS A WAY TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE.

AND MANY OF THE LETTERS THAT WERE WRITTEN TO CONGRESS DURING THAT TIME EMPHASIZED THE FACT THAT THIS WAS ALSO AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, NOT JUST A WATER QUALITY ONE.

- IN 1962, PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY SIGNED THE FRYING PAN ARKANSAS PROJECT ACT AND CAME TO PUEBLO A DAY LATER TO CELEBRATE ITS SIGNING.

- WHEN THEY COME HERE TO THIS STATE, THEN THEY REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY TO PUT THIS PROJECT WHICH BELONG-- - IT WAS A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY WAS REALIZING THERE WERE NEW POSSIBILITIES.

AND SO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BIG PROJECT THAT WOULD HELP PEOPLE WAS FIRMLY IN FRONT OF THE NATION AT THAT TIME.

- THE FRYING PAN ARKANSAS PROJECT WOULD DIVERT FRESH WATER FROM THE SNOWY MOUNTAINS WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

THROUGH THE ROARING FORK AND FRYING PAN RIVERS AND BRING IT TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN IN THE EASTERN PLAINS.

IT WAS A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING AND INCLUDED CONSTRUCTION OF CANALS, TUNNELS, DAMS, AND RESERVOIRS.

- WHEN WE BRING THE WATER OVER, WE BRING IT TO TURQUOISE LAKE, AND THEN IT COMES DOWN TO TWIN LAKES, AND THAT COMES ALL THE WAY DOWN THE ARKANSAS RIVER.

WE DON'T HAVE A TUNNEL OR ANYTHING TO BRING IT, AND INTO PUEBLO RESERVOIR.

WHICH IS RIGHT HERE BY PUEBLO.

- CONGRESS ALLOCATED $170 MILLION FOR THE FRYING PAN ARKANSAS PROJECT, ALSO KNOWN AS THE FRY-ARK.

THE STATE OF COLORADO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A THIRD OF THAT COST.

- THERE WAS FINANCING FOR THE FRY-ARK PROJECT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT AND THE FOUNTAIN VALLEY AUTHORITY PIPELINE.

THE FOLKS IN EL PASO COUNTY HAD THE ABILITY TO FINANCE AND PAY FOR THAT PIPE.

THE FOLKS IN THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY DID NOT.

AND SO IT HAS TAKEN, ESSENTIALLY FROM 1962 UNTIL NOW, FOR THE FOLKS IN THE LOWER VALLEY TO COME UP WITH A MECHANISM THAT MADE THE PIPE AFFORDABLE.

- AND IT WAS NEVER BUILT BECAUSE THE RESIDENTS OF THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY COULD NOT AFFORD TO BUILD IT.

- TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT, WE TRAVELED TO CHERAW, A SMALL TOWN WITH LESS THAN 200 RESIDENTS.

SOME OF THE WATER IN THIS AREA COMES FROM DEEP WELLS THAT CONTAIN RADIONUCLIDES.

THERE WE MET UP WITH RETIRED FARMER JERRY BAY AND HIS FAMILY.

- MY NAME IS JERRY BAY.

I HAVE LIVED HERE IN THIS LOCATION FOR PROBABLY ABOUT 75 YEARS.

WE GREW MOSTLY CORN AND ALFALFA.

WE HAD SOME CATTLE TOO.

IN OUR COMMUNITY, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE LIVE ON IS OUR FARMS AND THE INCOME FROM OUR FARMS.

OUR WELL SYSTEM IS A COMMUNITY WATER SYSTEM AND THERE'S LIKE 32 PEOPLE THAT HAVE METERS ON THE SYSTEM.

- WATER GOES THROUGH STANDARD TREATMENT IN WELL HOUSES LIKE THIS ONE.

WHERE THEY TREAT THE WATER WITH CHLORINE OR BLEACH TO KILL OFF BACTERIA AT A LEVEL THAT'S SAFE FOR DRINKING.

BUT THESE DISINFECTANTS CAN'T REMOVE RADIONUCLIDES.

- PUT THE BLEACH IN HERE.

THAT'S THE JUGS OF BLEACH THAT COME IN GALLON JUGS AND THEY POUR THOSE IN THE BARRELS AND THEN FILL THEM UP WITH WATER AND PUMP.

THAT'S THE PUMP DOWN THERE THAT PUMPS THE WATER.

I DRINK THE WATER, BUT IF IT WAS CLEANER, I'D PROBABLY FEEL BETTER ABOUT IT.

I'D LIKE TO SEE SOME WAY OR ANOTHER TO GET CLEANER WATER TO DRINK.

BUT I THINK THE CONDUIT IS GOING TO BE OVERPRICED, AND I PROBABLY WON'T EVEN BE AROUND WHEN IT GETS HERE.

HERE'S A COPY OF THE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT, BUT IT'S LIKE 12 PAGES.

- EVERY QUARTER, JERRY SENDS OFF WATER SAMPLES FOR TESTING TO A STATE REGULATORY AGENCY.

HE SHOWED US COPIES OF HIS WELL'S RECENT WATER REPORTS.

- THIS IS HIGH LEVELS OF RADIONUCLIDES.

THE LIMIT IS 5, SO OURS IS 6.8 AND 8.5, SO WE'RE LIKE THREE PARTS PER MILLION OVER THE LIMIT.

RADIONUCLIDES ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE HEALTH RISKS WHEN CONSUMED EATING OR DRINKING.

- OH, HERE'S SOMETHING ELSE I DIDN'T SEE.

- JERRY'S STEPDAUGHTER SHANNA LIVES NEARBY AND WORRIES ABOUT HER MOM AND STEPDAD DRINKING THE TAP WATER.

- RADIUM, YOU KNOW, IS A CARCINOGEN.

YOU'RE COOKING WITH IT, YOU'RE BATHING IN IT, YOU'RE DRINKING IT.

- YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S LIVED AROUND HERE AND LIVED THROUGH IT, SO I GUESS MAYBE WE CAN TOO.

I DON'T LIKE TO DRINK BOTTLED WATER.

IT DON'T QUENCH YOUR THIRST LIKE... REGULAR WATER, THEY TAKE TOO MUCH OUT OF IT.

- I HAVE A VASTLY DIFFERENT OPINION ON THAT ONE.

MY VIEWPOINTS ARE DIFFERENT THAN MY PARENTS.

THEY WILL JUST OPEN UP THE TAP AND TAKE A DRINK.

I WOULD SAY IT'S SAFE TO SAY WITHIN A FIVE-MILE RADIUS OF JUST THEIR HOME, AT LEAST ONE PERSON IN EVERY HOME HAS HAD SOME FORM OF CANCER, MY PARENTS INCLUDED.

- SHANNA LIVES 20 MINUTES AWAY FROM JERRY AND HER MOM.

LIKE THEM, HER WATER COMES FROM A WELL THAT CONTAINS HIGH LEVELS OF RADIONUCLIDES THAT VIOLATE THE EPA'S STANDARDS.

AFTER MOVING INTO HER NEW HOME TWO YEARS AGO, SHE INSTALLED A REVERSE OSMOSIS, OR RO SYSTEM.

- THIS IS THE RO SYSTEM THAT CAME WITH THE TRIPLE FILTRATION SYSTEM.

THIS IS THE RO HOLDING TANK, AND THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE FILTERS.

- REVERSE OSMOSIS IS A TREATMENT PROCESS THAT REMOVES CONTAMINANTS LIKE RADIONUCLIDES, MINERALS, AND HEAVY METALS FROM WATER.

THE SYSTEM COST SHANNA AND HER HUSBAND $10,000.

- IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE ARE PAYING RIGHT NOW TO PROVIDE OUR HOME WITH CLEAN WATER IS WELL OVER $600 A MONTH.

(MUSIC PLAYING) - REVERSE OSMOSIS IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR REMOVING RADIONUCLIDES.

BUT NOT EVERYONE IN THESE TOWNS CAN AFFORD IT.

THE MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN THIS REGION IS $54,000.

- I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO GET A REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM, SO WHAT DOES LOW-INCOME AND DISABLED PEOPLE AND ELDERLY DO?

WE'RE JUST OUT OF LUCK.

- TWO TOWNS IN THE REGION INVESTED IN COMMUNITY-WIDE REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANTS, SO EVERYONE IN TOWN COULD BENEFIT.

- WE'RE HEADED TO THE LOS ANIMAS REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT.

THIS WAS BUILT IN THE MID-1990S PRIOR TO THAT, WE ALL DRANK HARD WATER, VERY, VERY HARD WATER.

SO THIS BLUE BUILDING IS THE REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANT, AND THE CONCRETE STRUCTURE BESIDE IT IS ONE OF THE STORAGE FACILITIES.

REVERSE OSMOSIS, THE WATER IS PUMPED THROUGH VERY, VERY FINE FILTERS.

UNDER VERY HIGH PRESSURE AND IT VIRTUALLY TAKES NEARLY EVERYTHING OUT OF THE WATER.

- WE HAVE EIGHT WELLS ACROSS THE CITY.

THEY'RE ALL PIPED TO THIS LOCATION RIGHT HERE.

IT COMES THROUGH THESE PIPES HERE.

THERE ARE FIVE-MICRON FILTERS HERE THAT TAKE ALL OF THE PARTICLES OUT OF THE WATER AND WHATNOT.

- WHILE THE REVERSE OSMOSIS SYSTEM CREATES CLEAN DRINKING WATER, IT CREATES A NEW PROBLEM.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE CONTAMINANTS THAT HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE TREATED WATER.

- BASICALLY, WHAT CONTAMINANTS ARE IN OUR WELL WATER ARE CONCENTRATED ALMOST BY THREE TIMES.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DISCHARGING.

- NOW, BOTH LA JUNTA AND LAS ANIMAS FACE A PROBLEM OF WHAT TO DO WITH THE DISCHARGE.

AND WITH THE WATER QUALITY IN THE ARKANSAS RIVER, WHICH IS WHERE ALL OF OUR WASTEWATER GOES TO, THE CONSTITUENTS THAT REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANTS TAKES OUT, IT'S NOT DESIRABLE FOR IT TO GO BACK TO THE RIVER.

OUR PERMIT CURRENTLY ALLOWS US TO DISCHARGE IT INTO THE RIVER.

BUT AT SOME POINT, THAT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE.

WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY GOT TO HAVE A CLEANER SOURCE OF WATER.

THAT IS THE SOLUTION, A CLEANER SOURCE OF WATER.

- MANY OF THE TOWNS IN THE AREA CONTINUE TO SEE THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT AS THE ONLY VIABLE OPTION.

- WE BROKE GROUND ON THE PIPELINE IN 2023.

TO DATE, WE BUILT ABOUT 12 MILES OF PIPELINE.

- WHEN COMPLETE, THE 130-MILE PIPELINE IS ESTIMATED TO SERVE 50,000 PEOPLE ACROSS FIVE COUNTIES.

THE PROJECT IS BEING BUILT AS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND THE STATE, LED BY THE SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.

- THIS LARGER LINE THAT GOES DOWN THIS MAP IS THE TRUNK LINE THAT'S BEING BUILT ALL THE WAY TO LAMAR BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, AND THE DISTRICT IS BUILDING THESE OTHER LINES, THESE THINNER LINES.

WHICH ARE THE DELIVERY LINES TO EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANTS.

THIS IS THE REACH THAT THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION HAS BUILT, AND WE BUILT THIS LINE AND THAT LINE, AND THAT'S WHAT'S BEEN DONE TO DATE.

- THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT TOOK MORE THAN 60 YEARS TO BREAK GROUND.

AND THE MAJORITY OF THE LINE STILL ISN'T BUILT YET.

THE LONG DELAYS LARGELY HAVE TO DO WITH MONEY.

THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION REQUIRED THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO FULLY FUND THE PROJECT THEMSELVES.

BUT THEY COULDN'T AFFORD IT.

SO DECADES WENT BY WITH LITTLE PROGRESS.

- THE COMMUNITY SAID, NO, THIS IS TOO EXPENSIVE.

WE CAN'T AFFORD IT.

STOP WORKING ON IT.

SO THE DISTRICT DID NO WORK AT ALL ON THE PROJECT.

- IN 2009 IS WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CHANGED GREATLY.

- BACK IN 2009, WE GOT LEGISLATION PASSED THAT CHANGED THE COST SHARE OF IT SO THAT THE LOCALS WOULD PAY 35% AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY 65%.

- IT WAS A BIG WIN FOR THE CONDUIT, BUT THAT FEDERAL MONEY WOULDN'T COME IN ONE LUMP SUM.

IT NEEDS TO BE APPROVED EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THE ANNUAL FEDERAL BUDGET.

- FROM THAT TIME, WE'RE GETTING LIKE $3 OR $5 MILLION A YEAR.

AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE $3 TO $5 MILLION A YEAR, YOU CAN GET SOME PLANNING DONE, BUT YOU CAN'T GET MUCH ELSE DONE.

YOU CAN'T DO FINAL DESIGNS.

YOU CAN'T DO ANY CONSTRUCTION WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY.

- IN 2021, THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT BROUGHT A BIG WINDFALL TO THE PROJECT.

THE LEGISLATION, SIGNED BY PRESIDENT BIDEN, ALLOCATED $500 MILLION TO THE PIPELINE.

- A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING TO CREATE MILLIONS OF JOBS, MODERNIZING INFRASTRUCTURE.

- IN TOTAL, WE'VE RECEIVED OVER $600 MILLION OVER THE PAST APPROXIMATELY 20 YEARS, AND ABOUT $500 MILLION OF THAT WAS FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

- MEANWHILE, THE COMMUNITIES WILL BE PAYING FOR THEIR 35% SHARE FROM A MIX OF STATE FUNDING, GRANTS, AND FEDERAL LOANS.

AS WELL AS REVENUE EARNED FROM STORAGE CONTRACTS IN PUEBLO RESERVOIR.

BUT EVEN WITH THAT FUNDING, MONTHLY WATER BILLS WILL LIKELY GO UP.

- RIGHT NOW, WE PROJECT THAT IT WILL INCREASE THEIR WATER RATES.

- WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER WAYS TO REDUCE THESE COSTS.

- IN 2025, CONGRESS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A BILL EXTENDING THE LOAN REPAYMENT TERMS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES, GIVING THEM MORE TIME TO PAY IT BACK AND A LOWER INTEREST RATE.

BUT IN DECEMEBER 2025, PRESIDENT TRUMP VETOED THAT BILL, ARGUING IT WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY.

- IT IS THE FIRST VETO OF HIS SECOND TERM.

- PEOPLE WHO ARE SET TO BENEFIT FROM THAT PROJECT ARE FURIOUS ABOUT-- - TODAY, THE PIPELINE IS EXPECTED TO COST $1.3 BILLION.

A BIG JUMP FROM THE ORIGINAL $28 MILLION IT WAS ESTIMATED TO COST IN THE 1960S.

- IT IS MONETARILY THE LARGEST WATER PROJECT EVER UNDERTAKEN IN COLORADO.

- RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE CONSTRUCTION AND DELIVERY TO ABOUT HALF OF THE PARTICIPANTS.

I DO THINK WE'LL GET TO LAMAR.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY I KNOW EXACTLY WHEN.

BUT THE PROJECT IS TOO IMPORTANT.

I'M CONFIDENT WE'LL GET THERE.

MAYBE NOT AS QUICKLY AS I WOULD LIKE TO, BUT WE'LL GET THERE.

- GET SOME WATER THERE, GRADY.

WATER, WATER, GUYS, 50 CENTS.

- AS RESIDENTS OF THE VALLEY CONTINUE TO WAIT FOR THE PIPELINE TO COME ONLINE, LIFE GOES ON AS USUAL.

- THE WATER HERE, THEY DON'T LIKE DRINKING THE WATER, OKAY?

SO I SAID, WELL, I'LL SELL THEM SOME WATER.

AND I SELL IT FOR 50 CENTS A BOTTLE.

SENIOR SPECIAL, BELLA, 25-CENT WATER ALL DAY LONG.

- RON'S WATER SALES GET THE KIDS TO DRINK MORE WHILE FUNDRAISING FOR THE SCHOOL.

[CROSSTALK] - SOMETIMES HE'S HELPED BY FELLOW TEACHERS LIKE BEA JAE.

- A LOT OF PEOPLE DRINK AT THE SCHOOL OUT OF WATER BOTTLES, NOT OUT OF THE FAUCETS OR ANYTHING.

- THE TAP WATER ISN'T THE ONLY CHALLENGE THE SCHOOL HAS BEEN FACING.

ROCKY FORD'S SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS BEEN CONSOLIDATING AND ITS NUMBER OF STUDENTS SHRINKING.

IT'S A FAIRLY COMMON SITUATION IN THE ARKANSAS VALLEY.

THE POPULATION OF MOST OF THE COUNTIES HAS BEEN DECREASING SINCE THE 1960S, WHEN THE PIPELINE WAS FIRST PLANNED, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE REGION AND WHETHER IT'S STILL WORTH THE INVESTMENT.

- THE AREA RIGHT NOW IS NOT GROWING IN THE LOWER ARKANSAS VALLEY.

I THINK PART OF THAT HAS BEEN THE DECLINE OF THE AGRICULTURAL ECONOMY.

BUT ANOTHER PART IS THEY DON'T DRINK THE WATER FROM THEIR OWN DRINKING SYSTEMS A LOT OF TIMES.

AND I THINK THAT AS YOU IMPROVE THAT PART OF YOUR OVERALL PACKAGE, YOU'LL ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO MOVE AND STAY IN THE COMMUNITIES.

- IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO TO GROW WITHOUT A GOOD, SUSTAINABLE, HIGH-QUALITY WATER SUPPLY.

IT JUST WILL NOT HAPPEN.

IF THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT WAS NOT AN OPTION, PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE TO BUY BOTTLED WATER PEOPLE COULD CONTINUE TO HAUL WATER.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES DO.

THERE'S NO OPPORTUNITY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

THERE'S REALLY LITTLE OR NO FUTURE.

- OH, I THINK THERE'S VALUE IN MOVING FORWARD WITH IT BECAUSE THIS IS COMMUNITIES.

THERE'S HISTORY HERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THAT COMES OUT OF THE VALLEY.

I MEAN, PRODUCTION, FEEDLOTS, THE JOBS.

YOU DRINK A TIVOLI BEER; IT'S NOT A DENVER BEER ANYMORE IT'S A LA JUNTA BEER.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE STILL HAVE THINGS GOING ON HERE.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO WRITE US OFF.

I'M GOING TO MOVE YOU OUT THERE IN THE CHAIR, DAD, OKAY?

- HUH?

- I'M GOING TO MOVE YOU OUT THERE IN THE CHAIR.

- OKAY - OKAY JUST A SEC.

LET ME USE THE CHAIR.

READY?

UP.

OKAY.

IN OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY, PRETTY MUCH ALL THE RURAL WATER COMPANIES, AND EVEN THE CITIES, EVERYBODY'S GOT THE SAME PROBLEM.

WE HAVE A QUALITY ISSUE YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT AGING WELLS.

OUR WELLS ARE DRILLED IN THE LATE 50S EARLY 60S.

THE LIFESPAN OF A WELL INTO THE DAKOTA AQUIFER IS ABOUT 50 YEARS.

SO THESE WELLS ARE AGING OUT YOU KNOW ANY DAY WE COULD HAVE ADDITIONAL ISSUES AND THAT CONDUIT WATER COMING OUT IT'S NOT GOING TO START IT'S NOT GOING TO FAIL QUALITY TESTS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF THAT RISK OUT OF IT SO I THINK LONG TERM, I THINK THERE'S SOME TRUE ADVANTAGES TO IT.

- BUT SOME RESIDENTS WE SPOKE TO WORRY THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THE CONDUIT COULD FALL ON THEIR SHOULDERS.

- I FEEL LIKE IT'S A NECESSARY EVIL.

WE ALL SHOULD BE HAVING ACCESS TO CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

BUT AT WHAT COST?

IT'S ALREADY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER BUDGET.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISTRUST, I THINK, IN HOW IT'S BEING MANAGED.

AND HOW IT'S GOING TO JUST WORK FOR EVERYBODY.

- IT WILL NOT BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WATER AROUND.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THE ALTERNATIVES ARE NOT CHEAP EITHER.

AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE FAIL TO REALIZE AT TIMES.

YES, THIS IS GOING TO COST MORE THAN YOU'RE PAYING TODAY.

BUT WITHOUT BUILDING THE ARKANSAS VALLEY CONDUIT, THOSE COMMUNITIES WOULD HAVE TO BUILD REVERSE OSMOSIS PLANTS.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT.

THEY WOULD BE CONFRONTED WITH PROBLEMS SIMILAR TO WHAT LAS ANIMAS AND LA JUNTA WOULD BE CONFRONTED WITH, AND THAT IS THE WASTEWATER PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE GET WORRIED ABOUT IT OR WONDERING ABOUT THE COST.

I WILL ASK SOMEBODY, WHAT'S THE VALUE OF YOUR HOUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A WATER TAP, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO IN AND TURN YOUR WATER ON?

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO THE VALUE OF YOUR HOUSE?

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOUR COMMUNITY?

SO WE PROBABLY ARE GOING TO, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A HIGHER, SOME HIGHER COSTS.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO LIVE HERE, WHERE I WANT TO LIVE.

- I HOPE WE GET THAT WATER FROM THE DAM PRETTY SOON, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF MONEY.

- THIS IS A WEEKLY THING FOR SOME PEOPLE, AND THAT'S DIFFICULT FOR THEM.

I'M VERY, VERY FORTUNATE THAT I CAN DRIVE OVER HERE, THAT I CAN GET WHAT I NEED.

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THIS AREA THAT DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION.

THE BOTTOM LINE THAT I FEEL LIKE IS WE REALLY NEED SAFE DRINKING WATER.