Lessons From the Field:Aurora’s Approach to Sustainable Water Supply Planning
Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference
October 16, 2012
Lisa G. Darling, South Platte Program Manager
Today’s Presentation Objectives• To Understand the City of Aurora, Colorado’s
History and Water Development• To Discuss Aurora Water’s Post-2002 Plan -
Project Alternatives & Integrated Resource Planning Process
• Selected Alternative– Prairie Waters Project Overview
• To Look Ahead to Partnerships and our Future
Aurora, Colorado
Aurora
City of Aurora, Colorado
• 3rd largest city in the state – for now• Population 325,000 (2010 census)• Home to Buckley Air Force Base and the
Gateway to the Rockies!
Aurora’s History• Founded in 1891, the city of Aurora was
originally named Fletcher by its founder, former Chicago resident Donald Fletcher.
• 1929 - Colorado's Secretary of State recognized Aurora—with 2,000 residents—as a city, and tax revenues were appropriated for sewers, roads and fire stations. Today, Aurora generates over $140 million in revenues.
• 1954 - Denver Water Board imposes a “Blue Line” in the suburbs beyond which it will no longer grant permits for new water taps. Parts of Aurora fall out of the Denver Water Board service area.
• 1958 - Aurora enters into an agreement with the City of Colorado Springs to construct the “Homestake Project,” designed to use water rights purchased on the Western Slope and bring that water to the two cities.
Homestake Dam Construction
• Photo of the homestake construction something historic…?
26% of System Storage
2002’s Water Supply Crisis
Drought Effects on Water Reservoirs
Homestake Reservoir
• Every drop counts
A New Reality?
Aurora Conducted Comprehensive Integrated Resource Planning
• 50 potential projects• Range of individual project yields: - 2,000 to 48,000 acre-feet/year
• Basins of Origin:- Colorado River
- Arkansas River- South Platte River
• Demand Management Included with Water Supply Forecasts
Integrated Resource Plan Considered Key Criteria in Evaluation of Water Supply
Options
Sustainability
Capital/Operating Costs
Institutional/Government/Public Issues
Environmental/Permitting
Expandability
Yield
Schedule Risk
Prairie Waters Project – The Selected Alternative
34 miles of 60-inch pipeline 3 pumping stations North Campus (bank filtration and aquifer recharge and recovery) 50-mgd water purification facility
Why Was This the Right Sustainable Project for Aurora?
• Responsible Use of Resources– Reduces the need for trans-basin diversions from Western Slope – Maximizing use of an in-basin renewable resource – Uses water rights already owned by the City of Aurora
• River Water Quality Benefits– Minimizes need for waste discharges such as brine from RO – Uses natural treatment systems
• Environmental Benefits– Avoids the impacts to wilderness landscapes– Maintains rural open space and river corridor habitat
• Protects Public Health– Improves reliability of Aurora’s purification processes – Exceeds current regulations and meets Aurora’s high standards– Can respond to changes in water quality
• Cost Effective and Practical– Reduces cost of purification– Maximizes use of $300 million in water rights already owned by the city
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
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2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
Syst
em Y
ield
and
Sys
tem
Dem
and
(100
0's
acre
-feet
/yea
r)
Today's SystemPrairie Waters Project - Core ProjectPrairie Waters Project (with Future Additions)
55,500 AF/YR
65,500 AF/YR
105,500 AF/YR
`
Prairie Waters Project Provides Drought Hardening and Meets Long-Term Capacity Needs
PWP Sources of Supply
• Previously Decreed Reusable Return Flows – 10,000 ac-ft in 2011
• New Supplies–Agricultural Transfers/ Leases–Storage Development–Other Supply Development Projects
Plan for Augmentation
• Decreed water sources under Colorado’s prior appropriation doctrine
• Filed on the augmentation of return flows from pumping tributary groundwater
• Replaced in time, quantity and location• Modeled depletive effects to the river• Ability to add new water sources as
“substitute supplies” under notice provisions• Storage firms yield and increases operational
efficiencies
Construction Bid Packages
Bid Package G Segment 1 (13 miles)
Bid Package H Segment 2
(9 miles)
Bid Package I Segment 3 (11 miles)
Bid Package JNorth Campus
Bid Package FBinney Water Purification Facility
Bid Package EPump Stations
Bid Package N Robertsdale Tank and Pump Station
Pipeline RouteE-470 Easement
North Campus
17 riverbank filtration wells along the river.
Pilot testing of aquifer recharge and recovery basins.
Prairie Waters ProjectNatural Purification Systems
Riverbank Filtration (RBF) (10 days travel time) Aquifer Recharge & Recovery (ARR)
(30 days travel time)
The Cost of a Reliable Water Supply
• Cost of residential water usage– 2002 - $2.02 per thousand gallons – 2008 - $4.54 per thousand gallons (3 tier)
• Cost of a tap for a house (10% of cost)– 2002 - $6,711 per residence– 2008 - $20,875 per residence
• Capitalization Cost– $600 million in revenue debt issued
Combining the Best of Natural and Engineered Purification Steps
Taste and Odor
Color
TDS
Nitrate
Pathogens
Organics
Micro-Pollutants
Challenges
Pumping Stations
Pumps and motors undergoing testing.
Pump stations nearly complete.
Forebay tank 1.5 million gallons.
Pump Station 2May 2010 Aerial View
Peter D. Binney Water Purification Facility
Water being delivered to forebay.
Site overview.
Control building completed April 12.
Building façades complete.
Binney Water Purification FacilityMay 2010 Aerial View Robertsdale Tank
and Pump Station
Control Building
Flocculation/Sedimentation Basins
Clearwell Pump Station
Chemical Storage
Softening/Pretreatment
Ultraviolet Disinfection
Filtration/Adsorption
Budget Status
Project Element Current Budget Estimate at Completion
A Storm Drain Bypass Extension $2,245,119 $2,245,119
E Pumping Stations 1, 2, and 3 $65,461,920 $59,923,758
F PDB Water Purification Facility $232,076,786 $215,012,592
G Conveyance Pipeline Segment 1 $65,580,576 $59,294,303
H Conveyance Pipeline Segment 2 $19,973,028 $19,935,261
I Conveyance Pipeline Segment 3 $38,943,516 $34,863,000
J1 North Campus $68,236,542 $62,780,194
L Access Road for Binney Purification Facility $4,849,174 $4,759,433
N Zone 4 Tanks / Zone 5 Pump Station $17,916,251 $17,027,309
OCIP, System Security, Utility Installs $18,631,652 $17,144,298
Engineering, Legal, Program Mgmt. $110,536,819 $106,145,525
Land Acquisition and ROW $49,000,000 $46,970,584
Reserve Funds $61,348,617 $7,898,624
Total Core Project $754,800,000 $653,000,000
Estimated Cost Below Budget ($101,800,000)
Success Factors
• Quality plans and specifications
• Close coordination with interested third parties (regulatory and non-regulatory)
• Pre-qualified, experienced contractors
• Partnering among the owner, designer, construction manager, and contractors to resolve problems equitably and promptly
• Careful budget management by Aurora Water Project Engineers and the Program Team
• Continuous value engineering reviews
Now what?
WISE Partnership
• Three-way partnership – Aurora Denver, South Metro Water Supply Authority (SMWSA)
• Regional project creating efficiencies, maximizing existing water supplies, and cooperating on agricultural water acquisitions
• Cooperative sharing of infrastructure and water that promotes conservation through reuse
WISE Partnership Chronology
2007
• ADW2/ADW2—Denver Water and Aurora begin to evaluate joint opportunities (Cooperative IGA)
• Denver Water and South Metro Pilot Study
2008 • ADW2+ MOU to include SMWSA
2009• ADW2+ MOU Amendment - Agreement to
fund additional studies• WISE Partnership Joint Acquisition IGA
2010• Completion of Pricing Model• Negotiation of Interim Agreement
WISE Partnership
"
South Metro
AuroraDenver
Binney Water Purification Facility
Foothills WTP
Metro WWTP
ECCV Northern Pipeline
ECCV Western Pipeline
PWP Pipeline ECCV Wells and WTP
Rueter-Hess Reservoir
Aurora Reservoir
PWP Wells
Potential WTPConduit 27
Aurora Pipeline
Hypothetical Wet, Normal and Dry Year Operations
Dry Year / DW use of System
Normal YearWet Year
Preliminary Water Supply Results
2012 Plan: AW: firm yield met in all years DWB: 0 ac-ft/yr SMWSA: 8,500 ac-ft/yr (on average)*
* Annual yields range from 5,000 – 11,000 ac-ft in any one year
Long-Term Plan: AW: firm yield met in all years DWB: 15,000 ac-ft/yr (when needed) SMWSA: Up to 60,000 ac-ft/yr (on average) **
**Annual yields range from 0 – 96,000 ac-ft in any one year
WISE Joint Acquisition IGA• In July 2009, Aurora Water, Denver Water
and the South Metro Water Supply Authority entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement to facilitate the joint acquisition of water rights and development of water infrastructure, as part of the WISE Partnership process.
Goals?• Provide a framework for sharing water acquisition and
infrastructure opportunities within certain regions of the South Platte River basin.
• Encourage cost savings and other efficiencies with respect to the joint investigation and acquisition of water rights as well as the change of use for those water rights.
• Permit the joint development and use of water infrastructure facilities for a more efficient use (and reuse) of water within the participant's respective service areas.
Benefits to Aurora
Efficient utilization of the Prairie Waters Project (PWP) system
- Offset PWP costs
- Share in the cost of future expansion and water rights purchases
- Protects current and future firm yield of water supply system
Benefits to Denver
3-way new supply for Denver
- Access to unused supplies
- May be used to replace “Strategic Water Reserve”
- New “system feed” from lower South Platte
Benefits to South Metro
Greater regional cohesion Efficient utilization of regional infrastructure Opportunity to meet midterm goals most
efficiently Reduces reliance on groundwater Minimizes the need to purchase water rights
Benefits to Partnership
Connected systems and a cooperative atmosphere will provide added options and redundancy during emergencies
A regional solution to best utilize existing water and infrastructure resources to meet future water supply needs in a regionally sustainable manner
Reducing legal fees and water rights disputes between parties
Strategic Planning Program
• Long and short-range water resources planning• Planning support for the Basin Programs• Development and maintenance of planningmodels and tools• Regional planning• Integrated resources planning• CIP development – supplies, storage,conveyance/treatment• Demand forecasting / water conservation
Water Resources Planning Process
Existing SystemDemand
Projections
Identify Shortages
Identify ProjectsEvaluate
Projects
Draft CIP
Projects vs. Revenue
Finalize CIP
Strategic Issues to be Addressed
Climate Change
Training/Compensation/Succession Planning
Customer Service
Financial Sustainability
Regional Partnerships and Other Cooperative Operating Agreements
Google/WSA Re-Use Partnership
Peter J. FrostExecutive Director
Douglasville-Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority
TIMETABLE OF EVENTS
o January 2004: Google acquires 101 Aquilla Wayo August 2006: Google submits data
center planso September 2006: Data center plans approvedo October 2006: Data center construction
beginso December 2006: Re-use contract negotiations commenceo August 2007: Data center operations
commenceo December 2007: Google submits re-use plant planso January 2008: Re-use contract
executedo February 2008: Google re-use plans approvedo March 2008: Re-use plant construction
beginso November 2008: WSA begins operationso October 2009: Project formally
accepted
Contract Terms
ConfidentialityInitial constructionOwnershipOperation and
maintenanceExpansionCharges and feesGuarantees
Resource Recovery
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MaryLynn Lodor,
Environmental Program Manager,MSDGC
What does Resource Recovery Mean for a Utility of the Future & Urban Waters?
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A new paradigm of urban drainage and used water reuse with resource recovery needs to be developed and implemented.
A Paradigm Shift
• View and Use Water as a Resource
• Integrated approaches (previously siloed) to technology, planning, policy, construction, economics, etc.
• Water in the urban environment must be approached as a single resource that can be continuously reused and recycled.
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resource recovery: urban drainage
• 4 Rs – Reduce, Reclaim, Reuse, Restore– Reduce – water & energy conservation– Reclaim - Treat for safe discharge into environment & Reclaim
energy (heat), nutrients– Reuse after additional treatment– Restore water bodies as a resource
• 3 Ss – Separate, Sequester and Store– Separate Blue, White, Gray, Yellow & Black Water– Sequester GHGs & remove/detoxify toxics– Store reclaimed water on the surface or underground
• 2 Ts – Toilet to Tap– Reclamation with or without 3Ss for potable reuse
Resource Recovery – Closing the Loop with RSTs
MSD’s Operational Systemresource recovery
Operational & Environmental Performanceresource recovery
FOG to Biodiesel Research Project
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• Fats, Oils & Grease Program Estimated 10 MG grease trap “waste”
discharged into MSDGC annually. • Working with University of Cincinnati to
characterize the content of trap grease collected from WWTP
• Based on the oil content and the trap grease production each year, the estimated production of biodiesel could be 20,000 gallons/year.
A new paradigm of urban drainage and used water reuse with resource recovery needs to be developed and implemented.
resource recovery
Water Reuse – Strategic Community Redevelopment
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To Downtown
Mill Creek Water Reclamation Facility
⁄
MetroWest Commerce Park – Community Developmentindustrial redevelopment site, minutes from downtown & adjacent to Mill Creek WRF
~18-acre clean site/Ohio DOD approved land for redevelopment
Could be supplied with industrial grade water processed from reclaimed wastewater.
water reuse
Need for Resource Recovery
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• Centralized Wastewater Disposal – flow deprived streams
• Urbanized effects • Habitat loss and degradation• Increases to peak flow• Decreased base flow • Loss of Streams - conversion to sewers
resource recovery: urban drainage
Lower Mill Creek Watershed75 miles of existing streams, 603 miles of combined sewers303 miles of historical streams
Loss of Streams – conversion to sewers
Institute of Urban & Regional Development
The goal is to manage the water so that an areas’ natural water balance is the same after development as it was before.
Next generation developments maximize the value of water:
– Use water features to form or preserve the landscape, and as recreational and ecological preservation areas.
– Incorporate water resource features that are aesthetically pleasing and serve a function in the water cycle.
– Engineer features or restore or incorporate ponds, creeks and waterways otherwise into the urban design.
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resource recovery: urban drainage
GOALReduce stormwater inflow into the combined sewer
system and out of the treatment plant• Locate streams, ditches, and swales that flow directly into the
combined sewer system• Divert the flow to a “green” feature to help restore nature
drainage and keep the water within the natural hydrologic cycle
Water Centric Resource Recovery Goalresource recovery: urban drainage
Direct Impact Projects
• Waste reduction/ resource recovery
• Owned and operated by MSD to support its core mission• Remo
ve liability of stormwater
Enabled Impact Projects
• Incorporate GI with public & private partners
• Bioinfiltration practices, green roofs, pervious/porous paving
Inform &
Influence
• Programmatic Elements to support sustainable infrastructure solutions
• Integrated Planning
• Advisory Committee
• Community Engagement
Turning Results into Reality
Turning Results to Reality
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CSO Contributions within WatershedWho contributes = who pays
Large Box Sites (2) 18 – 23 acre sites
/
18 acre big box16 MG/annual23 acre big box
21MG/annual
¼ acre =0.1MG/ annual
Residential is contributing less than 1% of the flow tributary to a CSO
Need for true costing to incentivize onsite management of reduced inflow
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CSO Contributions within Watershed Who contributes = who pays
Residential is contributing less than 1% of the flow tributary to a CSO
Need for true costing to incentivize onsite management of reduced inflow
Large Box Sites (2) 15 – 18 acre sites
/
15 acre big box16 MG/annual18 acre big box
21MG/annual
¼ acre =0.1MG/ annual
Water Billing based on Consumption (cubic feet/month)
¼ acre w/ 1 bath $22.33
23 acres of impervious &
6 toilets $48.37
18 acres of impervious & 6
toilets $22.00
Integrated Resource Recovery Facilities
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– Water conservation, reuse, and recycle reduces GHG emissions
– WWTPs –as renewable resource recovery facilities that produce clean water, recover energy and generate nutrients.
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Questions