2016 master plan update
The 2016 Master Plan Update is the most definitive study of water demand and supplies of the region since our initial Master Plan in 2007. The study confirmed our region’s progress in transitioning to renewable water supplies and provided the clearest picture to date of our path to a sustainable water future.
The evidence of our progress is clear
Shifting to non-renewable sources
In the early 2000s, many of the region’s largest water providers relied on nonrenewable groundwater for almost all their water supply. By 2013, less than half of the region’s water supply came from nonrenewable groundwater, and in 2020, it has fallen even further to 22 percent. By 2065, only 15 percent of the region’s water supply will come from nonrenewable sources, despite a projected 130 percent increase in total water demand over the same period.
Investment in our region by our members
This progress is the result of several regional projects and initiatives that South Metro Water and its members have invested in, including WISE, the Chatfield Reallocation Project, Rueter-Hess Reservoir, the ACWWA/ECCV Northern Project, Castle Rock’s Plum Creek Water Purification Facility and more.
Focusing on conservation and education
Our progress is also the result of strong and effective conservation efforts that have reduced per capita water demand by 30 percent. Today, the region has one of the lowest water consumption rates per person in Colorado, making the South Metro Region a leader in conservation and water stewardship.