Springs Utilities Appeal Court’s Ruling Over SDS

It’s a water project that has Colorado Springs and Pueblo at odds.

In April, a Pueblo County judge ruled that the Southern Delivery System (SDS), a pipeline that would divert water from the Pueblo Dam to Colorado Springs, would further degrade water quality. The ruling stated that SDS violates water quality standards in Pueblo County.

Colorado Springs Utilities says the April ruling is unfortunate and they have always met water quality standards. They joined the City of Colorado Springs, and the State of Colorado in filing an appeal against that ruling.

On Friday, Pueblo County District Attorney Bill Thiebaut stood near the Fountain Creek Flood Control marker in Pueblo and vowed he would not stop fighting against SDS. He held up two jars of water: one he said was from Lake Pueblo, the other from Fountain Creek. “You can see (the latter jar) is rather muddy and contaminated as compared to the Lake Pueblo water,” Thiebaut said. He attributes the pollution to Colorado Springs’ development projects, saying the runoff ends up in Fountain Creek. He says that Colorado Springs takes the clean water in Pueblo Reservoir and returns used, dirty water to Fountain Creek.

Mark Pifher of Colorado Springs Utilities works directly with water quality regarding SDS. He tells KRDO NewsChannel 13 that the pollution in Fountain Creek has nothing to do with SDS. “At this point in time, Southern Delivery is not yet operational. So that’s the ambient condition, if you will, of Fountain Creek,” Pifher said.

In a written statement from the Tenth Judicial District, Thiebaut claims the pollution in Fountain Creek has caused illness to Pueblo County residents. But Pifher says Utilities has never been made aware of any illnesses.

Colorado Springs Utilities says they’ve undergone years of extensive environmental studies and have agreed to extensive monitoring and environmental improvements as part of the SDS project. Utilities also says SDS obtained the State 401 water quality certification in 2010. Pueblo County District Court ruled against that certification last month.

Thiebaut says that his job is to protect the public health and safety of Pueblo County residents and he will continue to prosecute those who violate the law. He alleges that Colorado Springs Utilities doesn?t care about Pueblo County residents, but Pifher disagrees. “We’re very concerned about the health and welfare of the citizens of Pueblo. We share this watershed together and it’s together that we’ll make sure that our water quality standards are met,” Pifher said.