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This chapter examines, from a regional perspective, the effects of water reuse by metro Denver area water providers on future water supply and on existing water rights. This chapter quantifies existing aM expected future amounts of reusable water available to metro Denver area water providers, and return flows resulting from those supplies, describes eXisting r~use activities and future reuse plans in the metro Denver area. ' Key points: 1. Reuse of non-tributary and imported waters is a major component of water use in the study area. 2. Current reuse is 53,900 acre-feeit per year with the potential to approach 167,900 acre-feet per year (Tabl$ 5-2) 3. Without water reuse, there i would be additional pressure for development of Denver Basih groundwater, additional transbasin diversions, acquisition and drY-up of irrigated agricultural land and development of South Platte sulface storage projects. 4. Water reuse implemented in 'accordance with water court decrees would not injure existing water rights. Water reused under exchanges and augmentation plans is foqeign to the natural flow of the South Platte and, therefore, generally! unavailable for appropriation under the priority system. ' ChaDter 6 - A Review of Distribution System Infrastructure in the Denver Metro Area to Identify Ways to Promote Maximum Utilization of Water Resources Available to the South Platte Basin abdve the Henderson Gage (Technical Addendum No.1, Chapter 5) This chapter focuses on exploring opportunities for using existing water supply and distribution facilities to enhance an~ promote the development and use of water resources above the Henderson Gage. In the southern geographic sub-region, investigations are now underway to define th~ ~otential additional yield that could b~ cc:>operativel.y developed using Denver's eXlsllng water supply system and some pf Its Blue River and South Platte water rights in conjunction with water rights, stprage, conveyance and delivery facilities currently or potentially available to membeirs of the Douglas County Water Authority. These investigations will focus on the incrleased yield resulting from new off-stream storage, conjunctive use of surface water and ground water supplies, nontributary aquifer recharge, and borrowing/payback arrangements with Denver. In the northeast geographic sub-region, ! preliminary quantitative studies are now underway to define the potential additional yield that could be cooperatively developed using water rights, storage, conveyance and delivery facilities currently or potentially available to the Northeast prqvider Group in conjunction with Denver's existing water supply system and some of Denver's water rights. This study will - 8 - . I I I t I I I I I I I I I ,I I a I I I