Fort Lewis College board members on Friday debated a distressing report that suggests the water and sewage systems at the Old Fort property near Hesperus are in severe disrepair and a potential risk to health and safety. FLC has leased the historic 6,279-acre Old Fort property since 2010, when Colorado State University pulled out of its lease. FLC commissioned Goff Engineering & Surveying to assess the Old Fort’s structural integrity. Wayne Kjonaas, director of FLC’s physical plant services, said that last year Goff warned that the Old Fort’s water and sewage systems were deficient, at which point the college put up signs forbidding Old Fort students and residents from drinking the water. Russell Planning & Engineering began its study of the Old Fort’s water and sewage systems in May, according to Bill Frownfelter, senior project manager with Russell. It found that the water is contaminated with fecal coliform – a bacteria that, while usually harmless, can indicate the presence of other fecal matter, specifically E. coli, as well as other pathogens. Russell’s report, which board members received Thursday evening, determined that the Old Fort’s water system required overhauling, noting that the chlorination system was neither connected to the water system nor in working order, the pump was old and inadequate, corrosion had caused even the structural steel to deteriorate, the existing pressure tank “could fail at any time,” and the building’s electric system “needs complete replacement.”

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