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<br />Page Seven <br /> <br />III. possible Use Scenarios <br /> <br />Determining the best use of groundwater resources requires an involved <br /> <br />engineering and economic analysis that is beyond the scope of the present <br /> <br />Groundwater Task Group. However, several possibilities are roughly outlined <br /> <br />below: <br /> <br />A. Groundwater Irrigation of Public Lands <br /> <br />The Denver Water Department currently irrigates about 3,550 acres of public <br /> <br />land using about 7,800 acre feet per year of treated water. A percentage of <br /> <br />public lands possibly could be irrigated by wells constructed at the point of <br /> <br />use, thus freeing an equivalent amount of water for domestic use, and reducing <br /> <br />peak demands caused by lawn irrigation needs. <br /> <br />B. Groundwater Development Beneath Developed Areas <br /> <br />The inclusion of existing groundwater development and the development of <br /> <br />as-yet undeveloped water underlying the metropolitan region may offer a <br /> <br />supplemental supply to existing water supply systems. In some respects this <br /> <br />concept is already employed. Areas somewhat remote from main surface <br /> <br /> <br />supply-based systems have tended to develop supplies from local bedrock <br /> <br /> <br />groundwater. Drilling wells near the point of use may reduce distribution <br /> <br /> <br />costs; disinfection may be accomplished at each well. <br />