Aurora 2007 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Applicant: City of Aurora
• Project Name: City of Aurora Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan Aurora Water Aurora, Colorado
• Date: 8/8/2007
• County: Arapahoe
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

In that same period, Aurora acquired a portfolio of agricultural water rights in the Upper South
Platte watershed around South Park and transferred those water rights to municipal use through
the state's water adjudication process. These sources of water have been supplemented over the
years and most significantly in 2003 with the purchase of the Thornton water rights as part of a
trade of water sources. The portfolio of South Platte water rights represents approximately one
half of the City's current water supplies.

From the 1980s, Aurora has acquired agricultural water rights in the Arkansas River basin and
has transferred these water rights to municipal use as well as entered into a series of operating
agreements that allow delivery of those sources of water for use by the city. These water rights
are exchanged to the Upper Arkansas basin for delivery through the Otero pumping facilities.
Arl<ansas River water sources represent about one quarter of the City's current water sources.

Current Ability to Serve

Aurora Water recently completed a Master Plan of Water System Improvements for the treated
water system (Treated Water Distribution System Master Plan Update, Blacl< & Veatch, June
2006) that describes the planning of treatment plants, pump stations, storage tanks and major
distribution pipelines to serve the City.

Aurora Water has storage capacity in 13 reservoirs and lakes. A map of Aurora's water supply
system is shown in Figure 1.

Table 1: Reservoir system capacity, Aurora Water
Active Capacity
(AF)
53,651
31,679
21,441
15,000
10,000
9,118
5,000
4,688
2,776
2,167
155,520

Reservoir
Spinney
Aurora Reservoir
Homestake West Slope
Homestal<e Turq.
Pueblo If & When1
Lake Meredith, Lal<e Henry
Turquoise Reservoir
Strontia, Rampart, Quincy
Twin Lal<es
Jefferson Lal<e
TOTAL

The City of Aurora currently operates two 80 million gallon per day (mgd) water treatment
plants (Griswold and Wemlinger Water Treatment Plants) with rated capacities based on delivery
of mountain sources of water which can be treated using direct filtration processes. Current
treatment capacity is 160 mgd. A 50 mgd advanced water treatment plant, the Aurora Reservoir
Water Purification Plant (further described on pg.16), will be constructed and in operation by late

1 Aurora has requested a long-term contract with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that would allow use of the space
for 40 years.

2