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<br />Page Thirteen <br /> <br />VIII. The State of Groundwater Extraction Technology <br /> <br />Groundwater extraction technology has been fairly stable for several years. <br /> <br />Drilling techniques are well developed. No dramatic improvement in pump <br /> <br />technology is expected, although minor improvements may occur. Wells, if <br /> <br />properly designed and maintained, may operate for twenty to thirty years. <br /> <br />Present day groundwater technology is unlikely to be outdated in the near <br /> <br />future. <br /> <br />Some opportunities for innovation exist. Deep horizontal wells may offer <br /> <br />higher production rates than vertical wells. Alluvial deposits may prove to <br /> <br />be useful for storage. A return to wind power for pumping at low production <br /> <br />rates from many deep wells could occur in the future. <br /> <br />IX. Tributary Groundwater <br /> <br />The use of tributary groundwater affects surface streams and requires surface <br /> <br />water rights. This subject is beyond the current scope of the Groundwater <br /> <br />Task Group. It has been estimated that there may be 21 million AF of <br /> <br />tributary groundwater in the Denver Basin. Several interesting possibilities <br /> <br /> <br />exist which should be investigated: <br />