Water Projects
SMWSA plans, directs and implements water-development opportunities for the south-metro area. SMWSA is dedicated to solving problems, maximizing infrastructure efficiency and ensuring that renewable water needs are met for all of its constituents.
Organization members have collectively funded nearly $350 million in projects that support the area’s water resources and supply.
Master Plan
SMWSA is laying the framework for a prosperous water future. The entity released a master plan in the summer of 2007. The SMWSA master plan is an aggressive, proactive and collaborative effort to address water issues and provide innovative solutions for the south-metro region’s current and future water supply.
Click here to download the complete Water Master Plan.
Other SMWSA Project Involvement
Structural Projects
Rueter-Hess Reservoir Expansion - Parker Water & Sanitation District (SMWSA Member) is leading area water providers with the expansion of the Rueter-Hess Reservoir. Once complete, the reservoir will provide 72,000 acre-feet of water storage capacity.
South Platte Reservoirs - In 2007, the South Platte Reservoir (6400 acre-feet) was constructed as a component of Centenial Water and Sanitation Districts long-term plan. It will allow participants (including many SMWSA members) to capture yields from existing rights in Chatfield Reservoir and other available surface sources. The reservoir can hold surface water and return flows, delivered through Chatfield Reservoir outlets, to supply SMWSA providers.
ECCV Northern Project Pipeline - SMWSA is negotiating with ECCV to acquire excess capacity in its pipeline from Barr Lake into the South Metro corridor. This pipeline is an important component to supply water directly to Reuter-Hess Reservoir and SMWSA members.
Other projects include:
Chatfield Reservoir storage space reallocation
East Cherry Creek Valley East/West pipeline
Non-Structural Projects
Rural-Urban Water Model Study - Parker Water & Sanitation District and Colorado State University, with funding from SMWSA and the Metro Roundtable, are teaming up to conduct a major study on ways to sustain irrigated agriculture while meeting increasing water demands. The results of the three-year, $1 million-plus project will be used in both agricultural and urban water policy development.
ZLD Pilot Study - ECCV is conducting a zero-liquid discharge pilot study scheduled for the spring and summer of 2008. Funded by a Colorado Water Conservation Board grant and SMWSA, the pilot program uses reverse osmosis to treat water to remove hardness and total dissolved solids while minimizing the amount of concentrate that needs to be discharged. Results of the study will be used to address the best way to treat the concentrate waste stream from reverse-osmosis treatment and will benefit other Front Range water providers that need this level of treatment.
Denver Water Pilot Project - SMWSA and Denver Water are working cooperatively to promote water conservation and efficiency and test the feasibility of a future operations agreement between the two water entities via a pilot project that will exist through 2011. The pilot project builds on a study SMWSA’s predecessor, the South Metro Water Supply Study Board, conducted with the Colorado River Water Conservation District and Denver Water in 2004 and is another step toward regional cooperation.
Project involvement is voluntary. Participating members fund projects through a combination of user fees, tap fees, property taxes and grants. SMWSA is a non-profit organization.