PUB00053

• Year: 1999
• Title: Metropolitian Water Supply Investigation Final Report
• Author: Hydrosphere Resource Consultants
• Description: Metropolitian Water Supply Investigation Final Report
• Publications - Doc Type: Water Resource Studies

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Metropolitan Water Supply Investigation

MWSI Results

3.1.6.2. South Metro Sub-Region

Water providers in this sub-region anticipate additional use of their groundwater rights,
surface supplies, reuse/augmentation plans and contract deliveries to meet their projected
build-out needs. There is no significant unmet need projected for this sub-region,
assuming that Denver Basin groundwater will continue to be used as a major water
supply source.

However, the sub-region is actively working to increase the renewable portion of its
water supplies by employing effluent management approaches that would maximize the
reuse of its groundwater return flows, and by acquiring additional surface supplies. The
region is particularly interested in expanding the roles of reuse and conjunctive use of
surface and groundwater as ways to reduce its future use of Denver Basin groundwater.

3.1.6.3. City of Aurora

Aurora has not yet projected an ultimate or build-out demand for its service area, Instead,
Aurora anticipates future growth to average 50,000 people per decade with an associated
increase in water demands of 10,000 acre-feet per decade. Aurora therefore projects a
future water demand of 95,000 acre-feet by the year 2030, which includes a 10,000 acre-
foot planning reserve. Aurora has plans in place to meet its projected year 2010
demands with acquired Arkansas basin agricultural rights, additional effluent reuse,
rehabilitation of its Cherry Creek alluvial wells, and other minor projects,

Aurora's plans for meeting its needs beyond the year 2010 include the Eagle River
Conjunctive Use Project (in cooperation with the City of Colorado Springs), the South
Park Conjunctive Use Project, and additional water reuse. Aurora is participating in
cooperative planning activities of effluent management in the Northeast Metro sub-region
described below. Aurora is also working with Denver Water to explore cooperative
opportunities involving those entities' existing South Platte reservoirs.

3.1.6.4. Northeast Metro Sub-Region

The long-tenn future water demands for this sub-region are projected to be about 120,000
acre-feet per year. Most of this demand is associated with the City of Thornton.
Providers in this sub-region have plans in place to meet about 100,000 acre-feet of this
need.

Current planning efforts are focused on meeting the remaining 20,000 acre-feet of needs
for this area, which are primarily associated with anticipated growth in Brighton and the
South Adams County Water and Sanitation District. Denver and Aurora are also
involved in these planning efforts because portions of their service areas are located in
this sub-region. Current planning efforts are focused on development of gravel pit
storage facilities, maximizing exchanges and finding potential uses for Aurora's and
Denver Water's excess supplies of reusable effluent. Providers in this sub-region are

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Prepared for the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Department of Natural Resources by
Hydrosphere Resource Consultants. 1002 Walnut Street, Suite 200. Boulder. CO 80302