Metro - Parker W&S CSU Joint Project Rural Urban Farm Model_Water Activity Summary

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Water Supply Reserve Account – Grant and Loan Program Water Activity Summary Sheet Applicant: Amount Requested: Parker Water and Sanitation District $150,000 Water Activity Name: Source of Funds: Parker Water and Basin Account Sanitation District and Colorado State University Joint Project on the Rural/Urban Farm Model Matching Funds: Yes unclear see below Water Activity Purpose: Study or analysis of nonstructural/consumptive water activity County: Logan Drainage Basin: Metro Roundtable -South Platte Water Source: South Platte River Water Activity Summary: The Parker Water and Sanitation District (PWSD) is a Title 32 Special District, formed in 1962, which provides water and wastewater services to a service area in the southeastern metropolitan area. PWSD’s DRCOG service area is 21,240 acres. Currently, PWSD serves approximately 14,000 single family equivalents (SFEs) while, at buildout, is expected to serve over 45,000 SFEs with a population estimated to be 125,000. Current water usage in PWSD, based on PWSD’s planning criterion of 0.7 ac-ft/yr/SFE, is approximately 9,800 ac-ft/yr, and this demand will grow to approximately 31,775 ac-ft/yr. PWSD is currently primarily reliant on the non-renewable resources of the Denver Basin, but minimizes use of this water by (a) reuse through its augmentation plan, (b) water conservation, (c) development of local renewable resources of Cherry Creek, and (d) water management through surface water storage in Rueter-Hess Reservoir. Even with these water management and conservation plans, PWSD will still need to develop additional renewable water supplies in the future to continue to provide reliable water supplies to its customers. PWSD’s infrastructure is funded currently by charging inclusion fees for new developments, tap fees for new hookups, and a water resources toll to cover water supply issues with new developments. Service charges are only used to meet operation costs. PWSD employs a block-rate water fee structure that encourages conservation by increasing costs for use above base levels. The study is designed to provide additional renewable water supplies to the PWSD service area in Douglas County. Because of the growth expected in PWSD and the reliance on Denver Basin water, which SWSI identified as raising serious reliability and sustainability concerns, PWSD is trying to reduce its dependence on these non-renewable resources. As SWSI points outs, there is going to be increased competition for water and in-basin solutions, and conservation should be the initial steps used to help meet future municipal demands. PWSD has already accomplished these tasks. PWSD has appropriated all of the remaining in-priority water in Cherry Creek, its local renewable water supply, and will manage the use of this water and its available reusable water, through Rueter-Hess Reservoir. PWSD has also implemented an aggressive water conservation plan that has resulted in a 40 percent reduction of water demand over the past 15 years. These plans, while reducing the use of Denver Basin water, are not enough to free PWSD’s dependence on non-renewable resources. PWSD recognizes that additional renewable water supplies can be developed from the agricultural sector, but wishes to do it in a manner that minimizes the effects on the rural economy. It is for this reason that PWSD has partnered with Colorado State University (CSU) to evaluate 1