Utilities Continues Water Project Despite Court Ruling

Colorado Springs Utilities plans to continue a water project despite a court ruling saying the project cannot proceed as planned.

A Pueblo County judge ruled Friday that the Southern Delivery System (SDS) would further degrade water quality and violates water quality standards in Pueblo County. The SDS water project would divert water from Pueblo Dam to Colorado Springs.

District Attorney Bill Thiebaut says he is pleased with the court’s decision. Thiebaut says he filed the lawsuit because the State of Colorado “failed to protect the citizens of Pueblo.”

Despite the ruling, Colorado Springs Utilities announced they will continue construction of the SDS project while they evaluate their appeal rights. Utilities says it is “disappointed that the Court disregarded several years of studies and evaluation by federal and state environmental agencies and the extensive mitigation already required of the project.”

Utilities says that beginning on Monday, April 16th, SDS crews will have construction activities crossing Purcell Blvd at N. Jarosa Drive in Pueblo West. Two-way traffic will be maintained on Purcell; however, Utilities advises motorists to use slower speeds when traveling in the area. Work will occur between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. until Friday, April 20th.

In his statement, Thiebaut says that if the State ignores the court’s order or continues to challenge the order in court, he “will continue to fight to protect all Pueblo citizens and families from actions that threaten our health, safety, and environment.”