• Members to sign participation agreement by June
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO, May 1, 2008 -- South Metro Water Supply Authority (SMWSA) members are deciding how to fund efforts to decrease their dependency on groundwater through 2030. The participating members are developing an agreement that defines each provider's share of a series of infrastructure and water rights projects by the second quarter of 2008. SMWSA is an organization consisting of 13 cooperating water providers in Douglas and Arapahoe Counties.
The agreement stems from SMWSA's Regional Water Master Plan. Released in June 2007, the Plan outlines a phased approach to developing sustainable future water supplies for Denver's south metro area. The agreement requires each member to determine their participation level in a series of mid-term projects, as outlined in the Plan's second phase of renewable supply development. Members' financial commitment will be prorated to correlate with their participation level in each project. The mid-term projects include:
• Northern Pipeline, Pump Station & Capacity
• Barr Lake Water Treatment Plant & Capacity
• A Local Transmission Pipeline, Pump Station & Capacity
• Rueter-Hess Reservoir Pipeline, Water Treatment Plant & Capacity
• Barr Lake Water Conveyance
• Water Rights Purchasing & Appropriation
Once approved, the agreement will allow SMWSA to more efficiently implement the mid-term projects and streamline the approval process.
"Signing the participation agreement is a more than 20-year commitment that demonstrates our members dedication to working together to transition to a more sustainable supply portfolio and optimize resources," said Rod Kuharich, SMWSA's executive director. "The agreement is also another great example of our forward movement on the Master Plan; a guidebook that's setting the course for the next generation of water providers in the south-metro area."
As independent water providers, each SMWSA member is evaluating the mid-term projects in terms of its individual water supply goals, operational strategies and financial abilities. The agreement is fast-tracking members' preferred levels of participation. Once the agreement is formalized and individual project details are approved, participants will be obligated to fulfill their financial and operational responsibilities.
South Metro Water Supply Authority (SMWSA) is the south-metro region's leader in water supply planning, treatment and distribution.
###
