South Metro water officials are holding a summit this week to discuss moving forward on cooperation, according to the Denver Post. From the article, "Douglas County communities will move a step closer to linking up their pipes during a water summit this week. The result could allow a region slowly running out of water to store and trade any excess supplies in wet years, and work on regional solutions that come at a cheaper price than more local approaches, summit participants said...
"New pipelines and reservoirs tack tens of millions of dollars onto customers' bills for a community that goes it alone. Lessening that burden while finding and moving water will be the topic of Wednesday's summit of Douglas County leaders. The first step would be linking up the water systems so communities with excess water can exchange it with those in need...
"The aquifers that supply south metro are falling by an estimated 30 feet a year, forcing water providers to dig new or deeper wells every few years. The region's population is expected to more than double - from 179,000 in 2000 to 406,000 by 2040. The region used 42,323 acre-feet of water in 2000, but would consume more than 92,000 annually by 2040, according to the study...
"Many south metro communities also have jumped on board a 31-mile regional pipeline that will eventually pump water as far south as Castle Rock...
"Another collaboration is Parker's Rueter-Hess Reservoir. The federal government approved it to hold 16,200 acre-feet in 2004. As early as February, it could get the government's go-ahead to store more than 70,000 acre-feet, supplying Castle Rock and other communities. The need for friends is beyond the region, however. Most south metro communities could not afford to pump water from the Western Slope unless they used Denver Water's existing pipes, regional leaders have said. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper will address the summit Wednesday, said his spokeswoman, Lindy Eichenbaum Lent."
Category: Colorado Water
6:25:43 AM 
|
