Source Water Master Plan (SWMP)

• Completed Source Water Master Plan
  
• Background
• Background Documents
• Contacts

Completed Source Water master Plan

The Source Water Master Plan Update process has been completed and City Council accepted the plan at their April 7, 2009 meeting.

Final Documents:

• SWMP Volume I: Summary Plan
• SWMP Volume II: Detailed Plan

Background:

One of the City of Boulder's most important assets is its water supplies. Boulder's founders recognized the importance of a reliable water supply and began developing a water supply system for the growing city in the late 1800's. Subsequent generations have expanded and maintained the water system and planned for its future. Current residents of Boulder are the beneficiaries of these forward-thinking individuals and their efforts in the past. Thoughtful planning for the city's future water needs at this time can help assure that future Boulder residents also inherit a reliable and sufficient water supply.

In 1987, the city initiated a public review process to evaluate the water supplies that Boulder owned and to discuss options for future uses of this water. These studies resulted in the 1988 Raw Water Master Plan (RWMP). The focus of the RWMP was mostly on water yield and uses in the city and less on raw water system infrastructure.

The Source Water Master Plan (SWMP) builds on the previous RWMP and focuses on the following objectives:

• Compile descriptive and background information for the assets and resources that compromise the city's source water system;
• Review and update water use statistics and water rights yields;
• Document policies that affect source water system development, use and management;
• Define current and emerging issues pertaining to the city's source water assets, facilities and resources;
• Review current operations and maintenance practices;
• Develop recommendations for future studies and improvements; and
• Provide general budgeting information and project prioritization to guide development of the twenty-year Capital Improvements Program.

Current information on the impact of climate changes on Boulder's water supplies and possible city responses to climate change factors will be included in the SWMP. Climate change related impacts to Boulder's water supplies are currently under study, information on the climate change study will be posted to this Web site when it becomes available.

The Water Resource Advisory Board (Jan. 12, 2009) and the Planning Board (Feb. 19, 2009) voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council accept the SWMP.

Background Documents:

• Raw Water Master Plan - 1988 - Provides the starting point for current SWMP efforts(this is a large document that may take a moment to open).
• Water Conservation Futures Study - 2000 - Provides information on the city's current direction and goals for future water conservation efforts.
• Drought Plan - 2003 - Provides guidance for recognizing droughts that will affect water supply availability for the city and for responding suitably to these droughts.
• NOAA Final Report: The Potential Consequences of Climate Change for Boulder Colorado's Water Supplies
• Source Water System Map
• Source Water Issues of Concern Map
• Glossary of Terms

Contacts:

Joe Taddeucci
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Kim Hutton
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Carol Ellinghouse
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 September 2009 10:25