PUB00094

• Year: 1998
• Title: Denver Basin and South Platte River Basin Technical Study: Technical Addendum 1 and 2
• Author: Special Water Committee
• Description: Technical addendums for the report
• Publications - Doc Type: Tech Report

Chapter 1: South Platte Basin Inventory

March 21.1998
Page 1-16

1.2.3 Irrigation Use

Groundwater irrigation use from the Denver Basin aquifers was estimated in a
manner similar to commercial and industrial use. The State Engineer's records indicate
that there are 307 wells permitted for irrigation in the Denver Basin aquifers. Robson
(1987) indicates an annual average use per well of 41 acre-feet With 307 wells and 41
acre-feet per well, irrigation use is estimated to be 12,587 acre-feet in 1996. The 41
acre foot per well production estimate was based on the measured discharge from ten
irrigation wells, Because of the small number of wells on which the per well annual
estimate is based, the accuracy of the total annual estimate maybe greater than plus or
minus 30 percent

1.2.4 Domestic and Livestock Use

Robson (1987) developed a value of 0,6 acre-feet per year for domestic wells,
The 0.6 acre foot per year average is based on a per capita use of 175 gallons per day
and a mean occupancy rate of three people per household, The 0.6 acre foot per well
value is also supported by metered domestic use values. The State Engineer's records
indicate approximately 24,000 registered domestic wells. These wells can also be used
for limited livestock and outdoor uses, At 0,6 acre-feet per well and 24,000 wells, the
estimated domestic and livestock use in 1996 is 14,400 acre-feet. Robson (1987)
states that this estimate is accurate in a range of plus or minus 30 percent A
significant percent of these domestic and livestock wells are located in the Black Forest
area of the Arkansas River Basin.

1.2.5 Household Use Only

The State Engineer's records indicate 2,000 household use only permits in the
Denver Basin aquifers, Household use only permits can only be used for indoor uses.
The average annual use for a household use only permit is less than a domestic well
penn it The State Engineer's Office has estimated the withdrawal from a household
use only pennit to be 0,33 acre-feet per year. With 2,000 permits the estimated annual
production is 660 acre-feet per year.

1.2.6 Summary

Total groundwater use from the Denver Basin aquifers for 1996 is summarized
on Table 1-20, Total production in 1996 is estimated to be 58,474 acre-feet. On a
continuous annual production basis this volume represents 80.8 cubic feet per second.
Information on the bottom portion of the table includes: the number of wells, average
use estimate per well, total production by category, and the percentage of each use

Hydrosphere Resourt:e Consuttants. 1002 Walnut Suite 200. Boulder. co 80302

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