WSP11430

• File Number: 8449
• Description: Platte River Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 5/1/1975
• Author: USACOE
• Title: Needs Identification and Supplement to the Plan of Study, Water and Related Land Resources Management Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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These techniques would then be used in various combinations

to develop a set of viable alternatives. Each alternative would

be evaluated for its effectiveness, cost, ease of implementation,

environmental and social impacts, and local and regional accept-

ability.

Finally, a legal and institutional analysis would be made and

recommendations proposed that will aid in the implementation of the

alternatives.

BENEFICIAL WATER USE ANALYSIS IN TIlE PLAINS AREA

Existing water quality regulations are set for the preserva-

tion and propagation of fish and vildlife. In certain areas, this

means the treatment of wastevater beyond secondary levels to obtain

a discharge which will not violate vater quality stanuards. Non-

point source runoff may also need treatment to preserve water qual-

ity at these levels under the requirements of PL 92-500.

In the South Platte River basin this has meant treatment to

reduce the ammonia levels of effluents at Denver, Fort Collins, and

Windsor, and phosphorous removal at Estes Park. In the future, it

may also entail close regulation of non-point sources. Maintaining

treatment levels beyond secondary and controlling non-point source

runoff is extremely expensive.

The beneficial uses of water include not only fish and wild-

life but also domestic, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and

aesthetic uses. Each of these uses requires different minimum

quality levels. The vater quality level necessary for domestic use

is much higher than that required for agricultural uses and that

for industrial use may be lower than agricultural. The question

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