WSP06649

• File Number: 8040.700
• Description: Section D General Studies - Water Planning
• State: CO
• Date: 2/6/1983
• Author: Judith Brimberg
• Title: From 1980s - Water Department Scrambles to Satisfy Metropolitan Thirst - Denver Post
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

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New Plant
Won't Solve
Area Thirst
Foothills Opening
Slated for Spring

WATER From '-8

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of Land Management gave their consent to the
expansion lasl. August.
Metropolitan-area gro"'1h and the hope that
lawn-watering restrictions can be lifted this
year are spurring work on the second phase of
the treatment plant. department officials say.
Even though the department hopes to end
summer watering restrictions this year, a limit
on new water taps will remain in effect until
1986, when the second phase will be ready.
Under the terms of a court setUemenl with
Foothills opponents. the department also
agreed to reduce water use through CQnserva-
lion by 3 percent by 1981. & percent by the end
of 1983 and 11 percent by the end of 1988.
The tap limitation program, imposed in 1977
and expanded In 1979, limits new taps to 7,000
annually. with new taps in Denver given priOri-
ty.
Because new construction has lagged during
the past few years., not all of the Laps have been
allocated,
For the years after I98&. the department has
two additional phases of Foothills on the draw-
ing boards., expansions wtuch would increase
capacity to 1 blllion gallons a day by 1998 at an
as-yet-undetennined cost. Demand in 1998 is
predicted to be 800.000 gallons a day.
But the department faces another problem
after 1986.
"We may run out of raw water," says Wiley.
In 1986, department planners believe, de-
mand for water ....ill reach about 630 million gal-
lons a day, just about what the department's
system of reservoirs w1I1 yield for treatment in
an extremely dry year,
Other options, of course, are on the lable to
{revent metropohlan area laps from running
dry.
Construction of the muclK1iscussed. not-yet-
approved Two Forks water project southwest
of Denver or alternati..'es to that project may
be recommended next year,
But even if Two Forks is built, it may not be
operational untillhe 1995-2000 period.
Implementation of another option. a 1000mil.
lion gallon per day reuse treatment plant, also
is possible In the same period.
To bridge that gap of nine or more years, the
water board's manager, Miller, says that the
department hopes to exchange water rights and
pick up additional rights. He also said that if the
department knows a project has been ap-
proved. it can lake spE'cific stt'ps to satisfy fu.
ture customers. But, Miller concludt'd. depart-
ment aHtcials are looking for other optIons as
weU.

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