Water is pumped from three wells: wells #1 and #3 are shallow groundwater wells accessing the Smith Creek Alluvium; well #2 is a deep groundwater well drawing from both the Dawson and Denver Aquifers. All three wells are located near the treatment plant on Spring Valley Drive. The raw water from the wells is sent to the District’s direct filtration plant and treated prior to distribution to customers. The treated water is stored in two steel storage tanks located on Pleasant View Lane—with a total capacity of 300,000 gallons—prior to distribution. The average daily demand from the 305 water connections is approximately 115,466 gallons.

Please: Always be conscious of conserving water. An extended period of dry conditions has led to calls for water conservation and restrictions around the state. You have probably seen the headlines about this. This involves areas that use surface water, which is dependent on snowmelt and held in reservoirs. Starting every spring and continuing through the summer (the period when water usage is highest), our operator-manager, takes monthly drawdowns tests of the wells to see where the water level is when it’s pumping and not pumping. So far, we do not see any threat to our water supply.

Still, the board would like residents to be aware of their water usage and minimize it whenever possible. Take care of leaks in home plumbing or outdoor irrigation systems; consider xeriscaping or using water-wise plants, and cover with mulch; use less water when showering and washing dishes; and don’t let water run unnecessarily.

Just as important as having a good water supply is having good infrastructure to deliver it, and the District has stayed on top of repairs. We are very happy with a recent cleanout of our three in-ground pressure-reducing valve (PRV) vaults, on Stella, Deby Place, and Spring Valley. The PRVs, which regulate the two pressure zones in the District, were improperly sealed for many years, and now they have been professionally sealed and refurbished.

The District’s wastewater system serves 298 homes. Once you flush, that wastewater travels to the District’s aerated lagoon system located on Spring Valley Drive, where it is treated. The treated water, called effluent, is discharged into Smith Creek, a tiny stream that flows southwest and meets Monument Creek at west side of I-25 off Northgate Road. Many times, however, that flow is so minimal it does not even reach Monument Creek.

The purpose of this contingency plan is to establish and to keep up to date the procedures necessary to utilize alternative water supply sources in the event of the contamination or loss of the existing sources.

The plan was produced as part of the five step planning process as developed by AWSD in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and Colorado Rural Water Association (CR WA) under the Source Water Protection Program of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

A Comprehensive Source Water Protection Plan includes the following five steps:

Step 1 Select a planning team
Step 2 Define the source water protection area
Step 3 Identify sources of contamination
Step 4 Develop Best Management Practices
Step 5 Plan for the future and develop a contingency plan
This plan is designed to meet the requirements as specified in Step 5. It is not designed to fulfill the requirements of a more comprehensive public water supply emergency operating plan that would be designed to deal with a wide array of emergencies beyond the contamination of existing sources.

The Contingency Plan is a 201 page document developed by the District, with help from customer volunteers in 2012. Electronic copies for our customers are available upon request.

Visit the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's (CDPHE) Colorado Water Quality Control Division site.