Metro - South Metro Regional Aquifer Supply Assessment_Water Activity Summary

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Water Supply Reserve Account -Grant and Loan Program Water Activity Summary Sheet Applicant: South Metro Water Supply Authority Amount Requested: $100,540 Water Activity Name: South Metro Water Supply Authority Regional Aquifer Supply Assessment Source of Funds: Metro Basin Account Matching Funds: kZ-land contributions from SMWSA Engineers Water Activity Purpose: Study or analysis of a consumptive activity and stn~ctural activity County: Douglas and Arapahoe Counties Drainage Basin: South Platte Water Source: Non-tributary groundwater in the Denver Basin bedrock aquifer system Staff Recommendation The application is well prepared and the proposed project furthers the Metro Roundtable's needs assessment. It also helps addresses a critical water supply need in the basin. Staff reconullends approval of up to $100,540 from the Metro Account to help complete the South Metro Water Supply Authority Regional Aquifer Supply Assessment contingent on resolution of the item in the issues/additional needs section. Water Activity Summary: Applicant South Metro Water Supply Authority (SMWS) was formed in August 2004 to plan for and develop renewable water supplies for the south Metro region. The organization is comprised of 13 individual water providers worlang collaboratively to foster long-term reliable water supplies through water acquisition and infrastructure. Overview of the Water Activity The purpose for the South Metro Water Supply Authority Regional Aquifer Supply Assessment study is to more accurately evaluate the likely impacts of continued reliance on the non-renewable groundwater supplies in the south Metro Denver area and to explore more coordlliated regional management of this precious resource. This project intends to develop a better understanding of the aquifer characteristics relevant to well production, artificial recharge and conjunctive use within the south Metro area through the collection of additional data from SMWSA providers. This study will also undertake a detailed assessment of aquifer drawdown due to pumping in the south Metro area by evaluating information from previous studies and updating with additional information collected from SMWSA providers. The project will also characterize the unit cost of producing potable groundwater in the south Metro area, including costs for pumping, water treatment, annual operations and maintenance; evaluate whether the unit costs vary geographically and/or over time through the year; and use this information to assess ways of optimizing operations to increase aquifer sustainability. Finally, this project will identify potential locations to conduct a regional ASR demonstration project within the south Metro area. Threshold ay~d Evah~atiora Criteria The application articulates how the project meets all four Threshold Criteria.