Metro - South Metro Regional Aquifer Supply Assessment_Scope of Work

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Scope of Work SMWSA Regional Water Supply Assessment percent over the study period. This will require a substantial investment in new wells just to meet current demands. Alternative sources of supply, including conservation, reuse and conjunctive use (combined surface and groundwater) were recommended as methods to extend the life of the bedrock aquifer supplies. The SMWSA completed the South Metro Regional Water Master Plan in 2007. This report identified build out water demands, renewable water supply goals and potential sources of renewable supplies. In addition, this study also developed proposed regional infrastructure that will allow delivery of new renewable sources as well as routing of potential local supplies such as water developed through a regional aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) project. The SMWSA members also understand the need to implement strategies to preserve the bedrock aquifers and in September 2007 began discussions on more coordinated management. Current plans include formal arrangements to share equipment, personnel and infrastructure in times of supply emergency, and developing a common resource pool for contracting drilling services. The SMWSA is also aware that the bedrock aquifers vary significantly in their yield and impacts within the south Metro area. The member organizations would like to understand these local effects in greater detail so they can develop plans to use the groundwater supplies in ways that reduce impacts throughout the region. The SMWSA is also investigating how to expand its artificial recharge of the bedrock aquifers. One of its member organizations has had implemented a successful aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) program for over a decade and others would also like to implement ASR projects. They understand that a coordinated ASR program is as important as coordinated aquifer pumping. Given this background, it is appropriate and opportune f or a study to be undertaken under the auspices of HB-1177 and the Metro Basin Roundtable 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 coordinated regional management of this precious resource. Study Objectives The objectives of the study are to: 1. 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 f rom SMWSA providers. 2. Undertake a detailed assessment of aquifer drawdown due to pumping in the south Metro area by evaluating inf ormation f rom previous studies and updating with additional information collected from SMWSA providers. 3. Characterize the unit cost of producing potable groundwater in the south Metro area, including costs f or pumping, water treatment, annual operations and maintenance; evaluate whether the unit costs vary geographically and/ or over time through the year; and use this inf ormation to assess ways of optimizing operations to increase aquifer sustainability. C:1Documents and SettingslrowannclDesktoplTo File BacklSouth Metro 179 Grant ApplicationlSMWSA179SOW.doc