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<br />.' <br /> <br />Metropolitan Water Supply Investigation Proposal <br />Hydrosphere, Inc. <br /> <br />Septmber 17, 1993 <br />Page 50 <br /> <br />Cost <br /> <br />The initially estimated budget for this task is $35,000. <br /> <br />Special Studies - Conjunctive Use <br />Purpose <br /> <br />The purpose of this task is to inventory and examine existing systems, expand upon <br />previously identified conjunctive use opponunities, investigate associated issues and concerns, <br />and physical facility requirements. In the course of this task we would work to develop <br />cooperative relationships existing and potential non-tributary groundwater users to identify, <br />formulate and evaluate issues and options. <br /> <br />Methodology and Evaluation Techniques <br /> <br />This task would be carried out by Hydrosphere, Mulhern and HRS based upon their <br />respective areas of expenise and knowledge of the metro area groundwater resources and <br />systems. <br /> <br />The basic concept of conjunctive use is that groundwater will be used at modest <br />production levels in average and wet years and high production levels in dry years. During the <br />wet years groundwater aquifers will be recharged with excess surface water supplies, thereby <br />maintaining water levels and groundwater production costs. <br /> <br />Previous studies in Arapahoe County have delineated aquifer areas where the highest <br />well yields are possible. Some basic groundwater modeling demonstrated that it was possible <br />to attain 30,000 acre feet per year from the aquifers beneath the Arapahoe County. <br /> <br />HRS and Mulhern will review the work previously performed in Arapahoe County and <br />extend the analysis through the City of Aurora and Northern Douglas County. The intent <br />would be to develop an expanded plan to utilize the groundwater resources with surface <br />supplies of the Denver Water Department and the City of Aurora to increase firm yield <br />deliveries with minimallong-tenn depletions to the groundwater resource. Hence, the study <br />will also address a conservative plan for groundwater recharge. <br /> <br />HRS will evaluate bedrock aquifer recharge potential and perform analyses as required <br />to evaluate and provide information on the conjunctive use project. HRS will review the <br />Arapahoe Aquifer recharge projects which have been performed in Arapahoe and Douglas <br />Counties: the Willows Water District/State Engineer Study and the Centennial Water and <br />Sanitation District Study. HRS will develop reasonable rates of groundwater injection and <br />develop preliminary groundwater injection costs. <br /> <br />Hydrosphere, Mulhern and HRS will panicipate in meetings with groundwater users to <br />discuss opinions and concerns related to Denver Basin aquifer recharge and the ways that <br />conjunctive use of groundwater can work in their water systems. Additionally, we will <br />investigate and discuss permitting and water rights issues related to the groundwater recharge. <br /> <br />Finally, modeling issues related to Denver Water's system would be identified with <br />respect to potential operational changes with the groundwater system as an additional <br />component of the Denver system. This would be done cooperatively with Denver Water to <br />understand the factors involved in firm yield determination. <br />