Last week we were introduced to the Terry Ranch Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project, the latest innovation from Greeley Water Utilities (GWU) in its ongoing efforts to supply water to Greeley and Northern Colorado. The first speaker was Harold Evans, fellow Rotarian, and head of the Greeley Water Board. He was asked by Dave Stewart to describe the structure of the Greeley Sewer and Water Department. The Greeley Water Board was established in 1957 and consists of 7 citizen-volunteers appointed by the city council. Harold has been chairman of the Board for 24 years! Its members are not term-limited, and the Board (unique in Colorado) has the power to set water and sewer rates. Harold introduced Sean who presented today’s topic. Sean Chambers is Water Utility Director and lead for the Terry Ranch Project (and a fellow Rotarian).
Sean’s first slide illustrated the impressive historic legacy of planning and investment in water described as “part of the DNA” of both Greeley Water and northern Colorado. These investments (going back to the 1800s) have ensured reliable and safe water for drinking, agriculture, and business. Greeley has frequently partnered with Fort Collins in these efforts. Early on (1905) the Bellevue treatment plant was acquired and connected to Greeley. GWU has been a key supporter of the Big T Project acquiring the largest number of units by a municipality and helped the Windy Gap reservoir get started as well as owning 10% in the developing Chimney Hollow Project. Many farms in Weld County faced foreclosure during the S&L crisis in the early 1990s. Several were purchased by GWU adding to the resource and many continue to function in agriculture. The Greeley WB is a powerful apolitical force which can make innovative and far-reaching decisions. All future planning must be done in the current context of a growing regional population combined with a major agricultural economy challenged by a warming climate with resultant aridification. Since the Colorado River is our major water source the region must protect its share (and ensure the water quality of) the River.
Now to the focus of today’s talk - the Terry Ranch (TR). TR water is a ground water aquifer that exists in sandstone that can be pumped for beneficial uses. The already robust expanse of the GWU system was shown on a map including 4 river basins (Colorado, Big Thompson, Laramie and the Poudre rivers). Now GWU has added a “drought-proof” additional source of (underground) water.
This project was born out of the difficulties in the Federal permitting process for the planned expansion of Milton Seaman Reservoir above Gateway Park. The problems of permitting and hydrology plus escalating costs led to a search for an alternative source. The Terry Ranch aquifer is “full”, contains high quality water and is insulated from evaporation and the uncertainties of drought. Water can be pumped out but also returned during periods of decreased need. TR is the most expensive source in the GWU system and will only be pumped and delivered to Greeley (via a 36-inch pipe) during drought and reversed (sent) from the Bellevue plant using the same pipe to the aquifer during periods of adequate water supply. Although less common in Colorado this technique (aquifer storage and recovery) has been used at other sites (e.g, south metro Denver) and proven to be safe and effective and “scalable” (add pumps as needed).
Using a unique P3 model buying raw water credits has allowed the Project to move forward without future expense and eliminated the need to float a bond issue. Given that GWU had spent years and $20 Mil pursuing the surface reservoir project it was essential that the Board ensure the quality of the new product. Wingfoot Water Resources, which owned the water before the GWU purchase had done extensive due diligence to ensure the product was high quality. Nonetheless, for a period of 18 months multiple scientific studies and project reviews were conducted by GWU and peer-reviewed ensuring that the water source was high quality, resilient, economical, and minimally impactful to the environment. The only significant “contaminant” is naturally occurring uranium, and this can be easily removed by ion exchange filtration.
Construction on the pipeline is underway, water credits have been sold and initially Wingfoot will finance 80% of the project. The last slide showed the development plan through Phase 3 which allows for build-out over time coordinated with developing needs.
Water supply anxiety is one of the newest forms of “mental illness” for those of us who live in the arid west. This thoughtful and innovative addition to our region’s water supply is certainly reassuring.