Wamsutter (Jackson, Saratoga, Baggs: loans, buying, construction)

[SnowWhite34]

I just moved to Wamsutter and I was wondering if it true that you are not supposed to drink the water here? And can you tell me why? Someone told me it would cause cancer, is this true? Just want to know if the information is true. Thanks in advance.

[CptnRn]

Even after extensive web searching I could not find any definitive answers to your question. I did find this extensive article about Wamsutter When a Boom is a Bust; High Country News which mentions the 100 year old water wells and system that is in serving part of the town, with other private wells serving other areas.

Presently the Town of Wamsutter relies on 3 old wells (1900-1920 vintage, Union Pacific
RR steam engine supply wells) and one “new” well, Well #8 completed in 1984 but only
recently placed into service. Construction of an elevated 400,000 gallon storage tank
augments the old 350,000 gallon railroad tank, but planning strategy dictates abandonment
of the old wells and tank in favor a new, three-well source supply to complement the new
tank.

One Goggle search "summary" item said the DEQ rated Wamsutters drinking water at 61 out of 100 (?), but when I went to the link I could not find even that much information. And I found no other indications elsewhere confirming this.

This pdf document below from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality regarding intended uses of the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund, assigns a priority of 61 out of 201 projects to "Rehabilitate existing water storage tank and water treatment components. Replace old deteriorated mains (cross contamination potential). Plug and/or remove old system components" in Wamsutter;

and a priority of 153 out of 201 projects to "Construct new source well, treatment works, storage tank and transmission line south of UP Railroad".

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...iSeLsQ&cad=rja

Here is another pdf document that is a report from the Wyoming Water Resources Data System, Report on the Wamsutter Water Well No. 8, when it was drilled new in 1984. It provides a "water analyses" page 23, and compares the water quality to existing Wamstutter Water Well No. 7. The water in both wells appears to have slightly higher dissolved solids, 504 & 512, then allowed by the EPA 500. The following letter points out that both wells exceed EPA standards for sodium content and states "The only other excessive constituent is the bicarbonate at 500 mg/l. Trona is the common name for naturally occuring sodium bicarbonate which is present in the Wasatch Formation in this area. Its presence also accounts for the high sodium content of the water".

The water quality appeared to meet EPA standards in all other measures. I suspect that EPA standards have gotten more stringent since 1984. I did not find any news articles or information indicating that there were known problems with the Wamsutter drinking water. The Wamsutter water supplier should be able to provide you with a copy of a current Water Analysis showing how it compares with EPA standards.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...HfHVaA&cad=rja

All things considered, I think it would be prudent to at least buy a good drinking water filtration system if you live in Wamsutter.

[SnowWhite34]

Thanks for your reply. We have been buying lots of water.

[moose13]

So how do you like the beautiful town of Wamsutter? I have drank the water a few times before, not knowing it was used in the coffee pot. I am still here although growing a third arm. For the most part we use bottled water.
I work north of town in the gas fields.
There is a nice herd of elk out there, some trophy bulls.
They can be seen sometimes as close as 1 mile north. When you run out of all there is to do there maybe you can find time to do some elk watching.

[popcorn247]

Oh, how I love those wide open spaces, the sagebrush, the wildlife. Lucky people in Wyoming!

[SnowWhite34]

I like it alright. It's very different from the places I have lived.
I spoke with the doctor at the health center here today and he told me the water just has extra Alkaline in it but that it was fine to drink. He said it just didn't taste well and that until you were use to it could cause diarrhea. Well at least I know we can cook with it now.
It is beautiful here. I love the mountains. We moved from the Smoky Mountains and they are beautiful as well. We have seen antelope but I don't think we have seen elk yet. We visited the Flaming Gorge and plan to go to Yellow stone and other places as well.

[moose13]

When the road opens up you will have to go through Baggs over the top to Saratoga and visit the snowy range mountains. Great moose watching up there and if you like fishing the possibilities are endless.

[SnowWhite34]

Thanks for the info, my husband loves fishing.

[WyoEagle]

Great pictures moose!

[WyoEagle]

SnowWhite the best place to see elk is the National Elk Refuge in Jackson in the winter. It's a bit of a haul from Wamsutter but well worth it. I've never taken the sleigh rides but it looks interesting. They take you in a sleigh pulled by Clydesdales pretty close to the herds. If you drive on the back side of the refuge from town you can see bighorn sheep.