Using Regional Cooperation

to Address Water Needs

Jill E. Repella

Douglas County Commissioner

Outline

History of Douglas County - Denver Basin

Regional Partnerships - SMWSA

Conservation Efforts

Regional Projects - WISE

Denver Basin Aquifer CS

History of Douglas County

Legislation – Denver Basin Rules and Regs

32 water providers – all in aquifers

9,000 individual domestic wells

Lack of regional foresight

Regional Partnerships

South Metro

South Metro Water Supply Authority

Formed in 2004

14 water providers all dependent on GW

Members serve 300,000 residents

Purpose - developing regional renewable

water supply projects

Water Conservation Efforts

Transition to renewable expensive

Conservation reduces the amount necessary

DC Regional Water Conservation Program

Assist in development of plans

State acceptance

98% of population with approved plans

Regional Water Projects - WISE

WISE - Water Infrastructure Supply

Efficiency Project

• 10,000 acft/yr project

• Aurora and Denver Water

• Combining their water and infrastructure to deliver water to SM WISE members

Regional Water Projects - WISE

SM WISE - Renewable supply - allows use

of Denver Basin aquifer for drought supply

Denver Water - Drought and emergency

supplies for Denver

Aurora Water - Continued use of facilities

for drought supply and offset Prairie Waters

cost