Arapahoe County Adopts Water Sustainability Study, Plans for Future Amidst Growth

Arapahoe County has taken a proactive step towards securing its water future, according to a recent study. The Board of County Commissioners adopted the findings of this comprehensive study on Tuesday, underscoring the pressing need to implement long-term conservation measures even though current supplies are deemed sufficient through 2050. As reported by

Arapahoe County

, this effort took two years of work joined by consultants such as Forsgren Associates and LRE Water, among others.

Commissioner Jessica Campbell emphasized the gravity of their task, “This has been a long process, and we still have a lot of work to do in terms of how we actualize the findings from this study,” as per

Arapahoe County

. The report, which indicates the county sits on top of the renewable water sources and Denver Basin aquifers, capable of yielding up to 141,000 acre-feet annually, has nonetheless required them to not take their water supply for granted, especially with potential growth. The current demand sits at 83,400 acre-feet for a population of 656,000 – a figure set to rise as the population climbs to an estimated 900,000 to 960,000 by 2050, according to their findings.

Already local water providers are working on boosting supplies in anticipation of this increased demand, but the study points out that conservation, sharing agreements, and regional supply development partnerships are key to bridging gaps between supply and demand. “We used water experts from throughout the county to participate in the study and this study will help us understand the impacts of approving developments, particularly our east, moving forward,” Commissioner Jeff Baker said, as noted by

Arapahoe County

.

In line with the study’s recommendations, a series of actions are being encouraged to improve water use efficiency and extend the lifespan of essential aquifers. It is suggested that community water systems be consolidated, building codes and plumbing to necessitate low-flow fixtures, and requiring developers to document an adequate water supply in their plans. The County also espouses a shift to water-wise landscaping and is looking at water reclamation and reuse opportunities, with a nod toward changing landscaping regulations to favor conservation.

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