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<br />Page Two <br /> <br />A. Groundwater Hydrology and Water Quality <br /> <br />The Denver Basin bedrock groundwater system consists of four saucer shaped <br /> <br />bedrock aquifers stacked vertically. From top to bottom these are: the <br /> <br />Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie-Fox Hills. These aquifers underlie an <br /> <br />area from Greeley to Colorado Springs and from Limon to the Foothills (6,600 <br /> <br />square miles). <br /> <br />In the center of the basin the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer <br /> <br />reaches depths of 3,400 feet. Because of the depth of the aquifers, the <br /> <br />groundwater is under great pressure. Each aquifer is sandwiched between two <br /> <br />impermeable layers of clay called confining layers. The confining layers <br /> <br />allow water to move between the layers, but not across them. <br /> <br />In general, the quality of Denver Basin groundwater is good. It seldom <br /> <br />requires any treatment except minimal disinfection to meet state standards. <br /> <br />Some exceptions exist. The Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer may not meet drinking <br /> <br />standards in some areas. This problem is sometimes alleviated by blending <br /> <br />with less saline water from other sources. It also may contain high iron ~nd <br /> <br />manganese concentrations; these may be subject to control by treatment, <br /> <br />blending or avoidance. <br />