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RGDSS Memorandum <br />Final <br />TO: Ray Bennett <br />FROM: Ed Armbruster, Hydrosphere <br />SUBJECT: RGDSS Surface Water, Task 4.8 - M&I Water Use <br />DATE: July 8, 1999 <br />CC: Randy Seaholm <br />Introduction <br />This memorandum represents delivery associated with Task 4.8, Prepare Summary Memorandum <br />Describing M&I Water Uses. The objective ofthis task is as follows: <br />Research and document the most significant municipal and industrial water users in the <br />Rio Grande Basin. <br />In June, 1999, telephone interviews were conducted with six (6) municipalities in the San Luis <br />Valley concerning municipal water use. The municipalities contacted included Alamosa, Monte <br />Vista, Del Norte, Center, Manassa and Antonito. These cities and towns are among the most <br />significant population centers in the San Luis Valley. The purpose of these discussions was to <br />develop an understanding of the amounts and sources of water used for municipal and industrial <br />purposes such that this information could, if appropriate, be reflected in surface water modeling <br />efforts associated with the Rio Grande Decision Support System (RGDSS). The following <br />summarizes information developed from discussions with municipalities. <br />Populations <br />There are numerous incorporated towns and cities within the San Luis Valley that provide raw or <br />treated water to their residents for domestic, municipal and industrial purposes. The water service <br />areas of many of these towns are small, with populations of less than 1,000. Municipal and <br />industrial water is predominantly supplied from groundwater pumping systems, although several <br />towns also use surface waters diverted from nearby rivers or streams. Domestic water use outside <br />of city service areas (unincorporated areas) is most commonly supplied by small private <br />groundwater wells. <br />Table 1 illustrates recent populations of several of the largest cities and towns in the San Luis <br />Valley as estimated by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (CDLA). Excluded from the <br />Table are the smaller towns, and unincorporated areas. The total 1997 population of the San Luis <br />Valley, including cities, rural and unincorporated areas has been estimated by the State of <br />Colorado at approximately 45,000 (CDLA). The municipalities shown in Table 1, therefore, <br />represent about one-half of the total Valley population. Since 1980, population growth in these <br />towns and cities has averaged approximately 2 percent per year. <br />Of the large municipalities shown in Table 1, the combined population of six of these comprise <br />approximately 80 percent of the total. These six municipalities (Alamosa, Monte Vista, Del <br />Norte, Center, Manassa, and Antonito) were contacted by telephone to inquire about their water <br />C:Acdss\M&I Use.doc M&I Water Uses July 8, 1999 -Page 1 of 5 <br />