DENVER WATER'S PLAN FOR A SUSTAINABLE REUSE SYSTEM

摘要

In Colorado, recycled water has proved to be a valuable source of water, which is why Denver Water will expand its system over the next decade. Denver Water has operated its recycled water system since 2004. The utility recently identified increasing needs for recycled water and threats on current fresh water supplies in the Rocky Mountain region, such as more competition for water rights and climate change. One key task that Denver Water completed in 2009 and 2010 was to update its master plan for the recycled water system. The last master plan update was completed in 2004, about the same time system operations commenced. The 2009/2010 update to the master plan was important because the recycled water system's historical operational data was available and previously unidentified opportunities could be addressed. Historical consumption data and customer consumption patterns were used to develop a hydraulic model for the fully expanded recycled water system, which ultimately resulted in recommendations on infrastructure requirements and sizing. Individual and regionalized customer costs were analyzed by determining the cost required per annual water consumption, where customers or groups of customers with a lower cost-to- consumption ratio were considered more economical than those with higher ratios. Water quality modeling also was conducted to evaluate potential water quality issues that need to be managed in a recycled water system with primarily seasonal, high peak-flow demand.This paper will discuss the results from the master plan update and summarize Denver Water's long-term strategy for expanding water recycling in Denver.