Cherokee Metro District Running Dry
By: Mireya Garcia
m.garcia@krdo.com
COLORADO SPRINGS- The Cherokee Metropolitan District is nearing a Sate of Emergency because of a shortage in drinking water, and Colorado Springs may come to the rescue.
It is not the first time the Springs has helped the District. In the last agreement, Cherokee provided it’s own water, and Colorado Springs provided services – -that aid ended in 2009. The current proposed agreement is different. Cherokee is asking for both water and services from the Springs.
“We are in a really good situation in terms of having a robust water supply, so Cherokee approached us and explained their need for drinking water in their system,” says Patrice Quintero, of Colorado Springs Utilities.
The agreement will take effect Wednesday if approved by the Colorado Springs City Council on Tuesday. It would include provisions to prevent any sale of the water and services that would violate city code.
“As we understand it, they are in a critical situation where their residents are in need of safe and reliable drinking water, ” Quintero tells NEWSCHANNEL13.
Revenue from this agreement is not considered profit. The money will be used to offset the cost of operations. Should Colorado Springs have a water shortage during the summer months, Utilities provided a way out of the agreement. “This agreement is revocable. We could say we are in a situation where water has become more of a challenge, and we could pull back on the agreement,” says Quintero.
Springs Utilities customers will not see an increase in water prices as a result of this agreement. Cherokee Merto has already announced some changes to prices for its customers.
