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Project Objectives <br />The demonstration project tested the feasibility of injecting excess treated surface water <br />supplies into the Denver Basin aquifers to store and subsequently recover these supplies <br />during high demand periods and /or during drought cycles. The demonstration project <br />sought to evaluate the technical, institutional, legal, and economic issues associated with <br />deep bedrock well injection, storage, and recovery. If favorable results were obtained <br />from this demonstration project, this research could blaze a trail for full -scale operations <br />within the Denver Basin. In fact, other water supply entities within the Denver Basin are <br />currently evaluating proceeding with an operational injection, storage, and recovery <br />program. <br />Willows felt it was both necessary and beneficial to develop a conjunctive use plan <br />because: <br />• Declining water levels in the Arapahoe aquifer indicated a finite water supply <br />source for Willows. <br />• Excess surface water supplies in the South Platte River could be available during <br />wet years. <br />• Conjunctive use of surface water and groundwater supplies would extend the life <br />of the Arapahoe aquifer. <br />• Increased beneficial use of scarce water supplies would be a prudent water <br />supply management tool. <br />• Optimizing existing surface water storage, surface water treatment, transmission <br />facilities, and groundwater wells would provide better economic benefits for the <br />capital costs of installation. <br />• Confined aquifer conditions could be used to provide transmission to remote <br />locations for efficient conjunctive use. <br />Area Description <br />Willows is located in the southeastern section of the greater Denver Metropolitan Area <br />along the Front Range of Colorado. The Front Range is characterized as a semiarid, high <br />plains environment, with an average annual precipitation of approximately 15 inches. <br />Willows has developed primarily as a residential community, with some commercial uses. <br />Water demands fluctuate widely during the lawn irrigation season, with summer time <br />peak demands as much as eight times greater than base demands in the winter time. <br />Base flow demands are below average for seven months of the year and above average <br />for five months. Willows' demand curve is typical of Front Range municipal water <br />suppliers due to the semiarid nature of the region and the large peaks in demand caused <br />by residential lawn irrigation. <br />2 <br />High Plains States Groundwater Demonstration Program <br />