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<br />-.' <br /> <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br />. <br /> <br />CHAPTER 2 <br /> <br />POPULATION AND WATER DEMANDS <br /> <br />2.1 Growth and Water Supply <br /> <br />In the 1990's, Douglas County led the nation as the county with the fastest growth rate. <br />Population grew at a rate of 191 % between 1990 and 2000 and local water districts and <br />towns were required to aggressively acquire new water sources to meet that growing <br />demand. The majority of the water sources that were developed were local sources of supply <br />including pumping of the deep, non-tributary Denver Basin aquifers that underlie the <br />county. The primary reliance on those aquifers has led to significant and sustained declines <br />in regional water tables. <br /> <br />Water has long been identified as one of the critical issues facing Douglas County. The <br />County is located in a semi-arid climate where rainfall is not sufficient to replace <br />diminishing ground water supplies and local surface water sources are very limited when <br />compared to the demands of municipal development. Because ground water has been <br />relatively plentiful, development has used this resource as the primary source of water. <br />Although ground water is currently an inexpensive resource when compared to developing <br />renewable surface water, water providers in Douglas County have recognized that continued <br />dependence on ground water will become increasingly expensive. <br /> <br />By the year 2050, populations in Douglas County are expected to increase approximately <br />300 percent over current levels. Planning officials have projected that Douglas County's <br />Year 2000 population of 176,733 will increase to 389,438 by Year 2025. It is estimated that <br />the Year 2050 population in Douglas County will be on the order of 550,000. The <br />populations of three adjacent water districts in south-central Arapahoe County that have <br />joined with Douglas County water providers in the current investigation could see combined <br />populations in Year 2025 of close to 90,000 when they have achieved buildout. Within the <br />service areas of the II water provider participants in Douglas County and south-central <br />Arapahoe County, water for a population estimated at 359,000 by year 2020 and 406,000 by <br />year 2050 will have to be met by reliable water supply sources and water management <br />strategies. <br /> <br />The current aggregated water demand for the town and water districts that have joined this <br />investigation is estimated to be 42,323 acre-feet per year. By year 2020, this water demand <br />is expected to increase to 87,860 acre-feet per year and by Year 2050 to 99,130 acre-feet per <br />year. With additional water conservation assumed in this study, 2020 demands are reduced <br />to 82,732 and 2050 demands to 92,213 acre-feet. The town and water districts will use a <br />variety of water sources to meet these needs including the non-tributary ground water, <br />available surface water supplies, reuse of return flows through augmentation plans, non- <br />potable reuse for outdoor areas, and water conservation. If water supply development <br />continues on its present track, it is estimated that the water providers will develop over 70% <br />of their water sources from the deep aquifer systems. <br /> <br />Page 2-1 <br />