Overview• History of the PDWG• Three Steps to Renewable

Water–Efficient Use–Sustainable Use–Reliable Use

• Conclusions

Palmer Divide Water Group

• Why?: Individual Members are too small to finance and construct a water import project

• In 2003 PDWG began to:– Recruit Additional Members– Explore Alternatives for Organization– Protect Potential Sources– Study New Water Sources

Palmer Divide Water Group

PalmerDivide Water Group

Palmer Divide Water Group

Front Range Water Conservation District

Second Regular SessionSixty-fourth General Assembly

STATE OF COLORADO

INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 04-232

Senate Committees House CommitteesState Veterans & Military Affairs

A BILL FOR AN ACTCONCERNING CREATION OF A FRONT RANGE WATER

CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Bill SummaryCreates the front range water conservation district in Arapahoe, Jefferson,

Douglas, Elbert, and northern El Paso counties. Allows cities, towns, and water providers …

Palmer Divide Water Group

• Gunnison River

-Black Canyon

-Aspinall EIS

-Water Workshop

$50,000 Boyle Study with 3:2 Match of Dollars from CWCB

-

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Time in Future (Years)

Sto

rage

(A

F)

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Dem

and

or W

ell C

apac

ity

(AF/

Y)

Storage

PDWG Demand

Installed Well Capacity

Lincoln R. & PS

Full Collection &Conveyance System

Install ½ Wells Install ½ Wells

Crowfoot R. & PS

Approximate Construction Sequence

Capacity Exceeds PDWG Demand

Task 4 – Project Timeline

Boyle Study Conclusions

• Expensive: $200million or $10,000/af (with storage)

•Perhaps only one well field left

•Mined water

•Water Rights are all Privately Held

Palmer Divide Water Group (N. El Paso Only)10k AF Wellfield + 5k AF Operational Storage at Lincoln South

Capital Cost: $63 million

Wells: $30,900,000

Conveyance: $17,400,000

Storage: $14,500,000

Yield: 10,000 AF/Y

Unit Cost: $6,300/AF

Annual O&M Cost: $200,000

Palmer Divide Water Group

El Paso County Water Authority

•Lobby the General Assembly on Water Matters

•Facilitate Regional Initiatives

•Active Participation in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWASI)

46

Surface WaterStorage

SatelliteWell Field

P

Pumpingto Ditches

Pip

eline

Ditches used assource of supply

FallowedLands

AlternativesDevelopment

Statewide Water Supply Initiative

Satellitewellfield

NorthernProviders

ColoradoSpringsUtilities

Trans-mountainWater

System Interconnect (As Customers)Dry Years - Delivery from Denver Basin;Wet Years - Delivery to ProvidersEvery Year - Delivery of Denver Basin Return Flow

Recharge theBlack Squirrel Groundwater

Basin

Treated Effluent & Wet Year Water

Dry Year Recovery

SDS

EPCWA Participation in CapacityWithout Penalty

Pipe

SouthernProviders

Cherokee &Eastern Providers

Alternate Pipeline; Rotating Fallowing of Agriculture

Treated Effluent

DRAFT

• Where are we now?

–Shift to a Local Focus

–Public Information Campaign

–Active Lobbying of General Assembly

Palmer Divide Water Group

Three Steps to Renewable Water

• Efficient Use

• Sustainable Use

• Reliable Use

• Transit Loss Study under EPCWA

• Interconnection of Potable Systems

• Public Safety–Firefighting

–Emergency Backup

Efficient Use

• Stretch Existing Supplies by:–Mining Other Parts of the

Aquifer

–Buy Renewable Water Colorado Springs Utilities

Sustainable Use

Satellitewellfield

NorthernProviders

ColoradoSpringsUtilities

Trans-mountainWater

System Interconnect (As Customers)Dry Years - Delivery from Denver Basin;Wet Years - Delivery to ProvidersEvery Year - Delivery of Denver Basin Return Flow

Recharge theBlack Squirrel Groundwater

Basin

Treated Effluent & Wet Year Water

Dry Year Recovery

SDS

EPCWA Participation in CapacityWithout Penalty

Pipe

SouthernProviders

Cherokee &Eastern Providers

Alternate Pipeline; Rotating Fallowing of Agriculture

Treated Effluent

DRAFT

• Is Colorado Springs receptive? –Policy Governance

–“So Long As”

Sustainable Use

• The Southern Delivery System Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is an opportunity

Sustainable Use

Reliable Use

• A Renewable Water System includes:– Tributary Water Rights– Delivery/Carry Over Storage– Conveyance Infrastructure– Terminal Storage– Treatment– Potable Distribution

Reliable Use

Reliable Use

• February, 2003 Report suggested two sources:–Gunnison River

–Agricultural Transfers

Renewable Water

46

Surface WaterStorage

SatelliteWell Field

P

Pumpingto Ditches

Pip

eline

Ditches used assource of supply

FallowedLands

AlternativesDevelopment

Renewable Water

• Delivery Storage–Brush Hollow Reservoir

–Cooperation with Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District

Renewable Water

• Terminal Storage:–Recharge the Black Squirrel

Closed Groundwater Basin

–Forest Lakes

Renewable Water

Satellitewellfield

NorthernProviders

ColoradoSpringsUtilities

Trans-mountainWater

System Interconnect (As Customers)Dry Years - Delivery from Denver Basin;Wet Years - Delivery to ProvidersEvery Year - Delivery of Denver Basin Return Flow

Recharge theBlack Squirrel Groundwater

Basin

Treated Effluent & Wet Year Water

Dry Year Recovery

SDS

EPCWA Participation in CapacityWithout Penalty

Pipe

SouthernProviders

Cherokee &Eastern Providers

Alternate Pipeline; Rotating Fallowing of Agriculture

Treated Effluent

DRAFT

1. The Palmer Divide Water Group needs Colorado Springs Utilities much more than CSU needs PDWG.

2. Even at full build-out, the PDWG rate base is too small to finance a renewable water import project on tap fees and water rates alone.

3. The PDWG must compete for renewable water.

4. Becoming part of a Water Conservation District would make PDWG a stronger competitor.

5. First, we must use our local water efficiently.

6. Storage is important.

7. The time to buy renewable water is now.

8. We may need a private sector partner.

Triview