WSP01852 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Metropolitan Water Supply Investigation Proposal Hydrosphere, Inc. Septmber 17, 1993 Page 35 system facility capacity and its reclaimable effluent. This portion of Denver's study is still in the formative phases and could benefit greatly through a coordinated and complementary MWSI Project. While the Denver study will address concerns specific to the operation of Denver's system and will contribute much toward identifying metro area water supply options, the scope does not appear to be sufficiently broad to address the entire subject area from a metro area- wide or state-wide perspective due to both budgetary and political factors; Denver cannot reasonably be expected to do other peoples' planning and Denver must be able to express its own self interest during the planning process. This suggests a critical role for the MWSI Project to play in conjunction with Denver's efforts. For example, while the Denver model will include a simple representation of the Burlington diversions, it will probably not examine the operation of the Barr Lake system in sufficient detail to allow for a credible assessment of several aspects the Barr Lake Plan as proposed. In addition it will not be addressing any opportunities related to northern Colorado water supply systems. The MWSI Project should complement Denver's efforts by: I) filling in informational and modeling "holes" through independent but coordinated efforts, thereby providing additional technical input to Denver's efforts; and 2) providing a "technical facilitator" function in Denver's proposed planning process, thereby relieving Denver of the untenable responsibility of conducting a collaborative planning process while concurrently protecting its own interests. The MWSI Project could take advantage of the technical meeting schedules, water provider participants and consultants currently involved in the Denver study. Effluent Manal!ement Study - The Metro Wastewater Reclamation District is undertaking an Effluent Management Study that includes a preliminary analysis of water management options involving reusable effluent for the purpose of addressing critical water quality problems in Segment 15 of the South Platte River. This study will focus on quantifying the potential availability of reusable effluent, identifying potential demands for such effluent and associated water quality requirements, and reviewing potential mechanisms for using effluent in such a way as to benefit water qual ity in Segment 15, including water trades, exchanges, and augmentation plans. Much of the study will focus on investigating the engineering aspects of rapid infiltration basins as a means of cost effectively meeting water quality requirements for agricultural reuse of effluent. The study is expected to be completed by early 1994 as a part of Metro's efforts to meet a US EPA-imposed deadline for solving the dissolved oxygen problems associated with Segment 15. Due to schedule and budget limitations, the study's investigation of the actual mechanisms for effluent use from a water supply planning perspective is expected to be preliminary in nature arid no explicit modeling of effluent-based water supply options is anticipated. The MWSI Project should incorporate the goals and results of this study into a more comprehensive water management context. The active involvement of the State in a cooperative water management planning effort addressing both water supply and water quality goals could buy more time for Metro with respect to making the best decision regarding South Platte water quality issues. This is especially relevant given that EPA has committed itself to assisting the region in exploring water supply alternatives to Two Forks. Southern Water SUDDly Prolect - The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (the District) is in the advanced planning stages for its Southern Water Supply Project (SWSP), consisting of a gravity pipeline from Carter Lake which will deliver water to participating