Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- Last month's flash flood near the Waldo Canyon burn area damaged some pipelines linked to the Colorado Springs water system, and now crews with Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) are working to protect the pipes from further damage.

The Waldo Canyon Fire destroyed vegetation in a roughly 18,000-acre area in western El Paso County in late June and early July, including areas near the Northfield Water System in northwest Colorado Springs. The fire left a wide open area for erosion and flooding, and the city was hit with a huge rainstorm July 30, which caused the flood and the damage to Northfield.

"These rains coupled with the fire have really caused us some incredible challenges," Andy Funchess, CSU Field Operations Manager for Water System Operations, said.

CSU officials said a wall of water and debris traveled at about 800 cubic feet per second during the flood.

"All that velocity, all that water, all that debris is coming down here," Funchess said.

The Stanley Canyon Tunnel, which is the primary delivery system of water from Rampart Reservoir to the Pine Valley and McCullough treatment plants, was not damaged, but the Pine Valley Pipeline, which serves as the Stanley Canyon Tunnel's backup option, was impacted.

Two creek crossings were destroyed, which compromised structures, and parts of the access road were washed away. As a result, some parts of the pipeline are now exposed and undermined.

"Just recently we went over the (Pine Valley) pipeline, rebuilt major portions of the Pine Valley Pipeline to put that back in service to really use it as a reliable source, a secondary source supply, in the event that something happened to the Stanley Canyon Tunnel," Funchess said.

The Stanley Canyon Tunnel, which now has no healthy backup pipeline, serves 75-80 percent of the city's water supply.

"The Stanley Canyon Tunnel, which is the primary source which is under the ground, is in fine shape, fine condition. Our water system is still strong, we just want to put those secondary sources back together so that we have a back up plan," Funchess said.

Officials said they are working with outside agencies to repair the pipes as soon as possible because more storms in the area are expected. But repairs are anticipated to take a long time.

"It's going to be months if not years before we actually get this pipeline in working condition again," Funchess said.

Repairs are expected to cost more than $1 million.

"We don't have contingent budgets for what ifs? We just don't set aside money like that so I don't have any current budget. I can tell you that a lot of the projects we have in place will be deferred," Funchess said.