Here's an article from the Pueblo Chieftain dealing with reusing water to extinction. From the article, "As water supplies tighten, cities increasingly are looking at water reuse as a way to stretch their resources. While raw water and treated wastewater is used by many cities for power plants or irrigation, the idea of recycling water for drinking has been slow to catch on. But at least two indirect potable reuse projects will come on line in Colorado during the next five years. Aurora is working on a $700 million project that will supply 10,000 acre-feet by 2010, while two smaller water districts south of Aurora will complete a $26 million project to supply 1,000 acre-feet beginning in 2007. The Denver Water Board is considering a reuse project that could yield up to 18,000 acre-feet to meet water shortfalls in the northern end of its distribution system."
More about Aurora's plans here.
Here's an editorial from the Pueblo Chieftain warning that recent setbacks for High Plains A&M is not enough to protect farmland in the Arkansas Valley. They write, "Intent on extracting huge profits from Fort Lyon Canal water, this outfit terminated options with farmers following court dismissal of High Plains' application for a change of the historic agricultural use to municipal and industrial purposes. Pueblo Chief District Judge James Maes, presiding over Division 2 water court, ruled it a violation of Colorado's prohibition against speculation in water rights. Without identifying an end buyer, no one knows if the water would continue to be put to beneficial use, as required by the law. Judge Maes' ruling really got the speculators' attention when the Colorado Supreme Court unanimously upheld the decision. Yet High Plains continues to stonewall the public by refusing to reveal who may be in negotiations for buying the Fort Lyon water. Mr. Campbell had the temerity to say the information was 'proprietary.' That's a dodge showing disrepects to people who may be harmed."
Meanwhile the Northern Water Conservancy is hoping to build more water storage in the future, according to the Loveland Daily Reporter Herald. From the article, "After two years of sifting through 180 options aimed at bringing more Western Slope water to Northern Colorado, federal officials have narrowed the list to five. The Bureau of Reclamation released an Alternatives Report this week for the Windy Gap Firming Project. Loveland and the Little Thompson Water District are two of 14 entities participating in the project. The report - available to the public - lists four possible reservoir sites for storing the water as well as a no-action option. Project managers with the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District said they continue to favor the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir southwest of Loveland. Kara Lamb, a Bureau of Reclamation public information coordinator, said the report sets the stage for a more in-depth look at the five options and an eventual recommendation."
Category: Colorado Water
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