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<br />Report Covers 1975-2010 Period --
<br />
<br />II
<br />
<br />JANUARY - 1975
<br />
<br />Water Study Update Summarized
<br />
<br />(This is the summary of a preliminary three-uolume
<br />Metropolitan Water Stu.dy prepared by the Denver Water
<br />Dept. under DRCOG direction lor th~ Legislature's llJetro
<br />Water Stu.dy Committee. Final reports will be auailable in a
<br />few months. The St~dy currently is being reviewed by
<br />DRCOG.)
<br />
<br />Water service in and around the Denver metropolitan
<br />area is provided by a diverse group of nearly 250 water
<br />agencies. The existence of this many agencies is, to a large
<br />degree, the result of the difficulties of supplying water in
<br />this semi~arid area. This difficulty and others associated
<br />with it will continue to affect the growth and economic
<br />health of the area in years to come.
<br />This report is concerned with the inventory and analysis
<br />of existing water agencies and, consequently, the quality
<br />and value ot service in the metropolitan area; it also
<br />examines the requirements and physical al ternatives for
<br />future service. For purposes of analysis, the study area.,
<br />shown in Figure 1, has been divided into two parts. Within
<br />the primary or urbanized core area. existing water service is
<br />discussed in detail, along with the requirements and
<br />alternatives for the future. Within the secondary are3.,
<br />existing service is inventoried and water demand projected,
<br />Only agencies which supply water for potable use as a
<br />community semce have been included in this study. Not
<br />included are a number of water suppliers serving a single
<br />industry or commercial establishment. Also not included
<br />are a number of agencies which are organized but not
<br />currently operatini.
<br />In conducting tbe study, each active agency was
<br />contacted by mad and in person and was asked to supply
<br />information regarding service area, population, existing
<br />
<br />facilities. water rights, financial iniormation and future
<br />plans. Information was also obtained from consulting
<br />engineers. the State District Court system, the Colorado
<br />Division of Local Affairs. the State Auditor's office, the
<br />Colorado Division of Water Resources, county planning
<br />agencies and county health departments. The methods used
<br />in evaluating and projecting data are discussed in this
<br />volume of the report. The details regarding each agency are
<br />contained in the Primary and Secondary Area A.ppendices.
<br />Cooperation was generally excellent, although a few
<br />agencies did decline to supply information, In addition, the
<br />data requested was often unavailable or occasionaJ1y of
<br />questionable validity. Time has not allowed the checking of
<br />all such data, and it is presented here largely as received.
<br />
<br />PRIMARY AREA
<br />
<br />The primary study area for this report consists of the
<br />urbanized portions of the Denver metropolitan area,
<br />specifically, Denver and the parts of Adams, Arapahoe,
<br />Boulder, Douglas, Jefferson ::lnd Weld Counties closest to
<br />Denver. The area is bounded roughly by the foothills of the
<br />Rocky Mountains on the west and the plateau of the Great
<br />Plains on the east and follows generally the valley of the
<br />South Platte River from the point of its exit from the
<br />mountains on the south to its confluence with the St. Vrain
<br />Creek on the north. Elevations range from 5,000 feet to
<br />over 6,200 feet, rising gently to the east and sharply to the
<br />west.
<br />Within this area, there are 67 water supply agencies and
<br />142 distribution agencies. For ease of discussion, the supply
<br />agencies have been grouped as "major suppliers," "small.
<br />growing suppliers" and "small, fully developed suppliers."
<br />Twenty.six agencies have been classified as major suppliers
<br />indicating that they are expected to grow to serve more
<br />
<br />T ABLE I
<br />PRIMARY AREA POPULATION AND
<br />WATER DEMAND FORECASTS
<br />
<br />1980 1990
<br />1,826,000 2,382,000
<br />1,060 1,460
<br />1,710 2,350
<br />~56,000 605,000
<br />
<br />Population
<br />Max Day (MGD)
<br />Ma.'t Hour (MGD)
<br />Supply (ac-ft/yr)
<br />
<br />1975
<br />1,518,000
<br />850
<br />1,380
<br />376,000
<br />
<br />2000
<br />2,999.000
<br />1,950
<br />3,130
<br />774,000
<br />
<br />2010
<br />3,598,000
<br />2,-170
<br />3,920
<br />944,000
<br />
<br />00685 '
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