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As I drive up º£½ÇÉçÇø Canyon with my daughter to ski at Eldora Mountain, I relish pointing out features of º£½ÇÉçÇø’s water supply system that I’ve had a role in managing for the past 19 years. The hydroelectric plant on the left, the pipeline up on the hillside, the reservoir at the top of the canyon — and º£½ÇÉçÇø Creek at the heart of it all. Fascinating, right?! She listens to me good-naturedly every time, and I hope one day she comes to appreciate the intricacies that go into providing that clean glass of water she sips every morning.Ìý

The º£½ÇÉçÇø community enjoys a high-quality and reliable drinking water supply due to 150 years of visionary planning. However, as the climate shifts, the challenge of providing clean and reliable water becomes increasingly complex.

º£½ÇÉçÇø’s drinking water originates from alpine lakes, reservoirs and the º£½ÇÉçÇø Creek headwaters west of the city of º£½ÇÉçÇø, as well as from the upper Colorado River. Each year, approximately two-thirds of º£½ÇÉçÇø’s water supply comes from º£½ÇÉçÇø Creek and one-third from the Colorado River. Water from these sources flows via pipes to one of º£½ÇÉçÇø’s two water treatment plants before it is sent to customers for drinking water or irrigation use.

While º£½ÇÉçÇø’s multiple water sources offer flexibility and resilience in the face of climate change and extreme weather events, the city of º£½ÇÉçÇø is actively to secure its water supply.Ìý

One way is through protecting our sources to ensure safe and high-quality water. As most of º£½ÇÉçÇø’s water supply comes from outside the city, º£½ÇÉçÇø partners with many organizations and community members to improve forest health and reduce pollution to creeks and reservoirs.Ìý

Other ways include investing in º£½ÇÉçÇø’s water infrastructure (some components are over a century old), promoting water-saving measures — including using water-saving fixtures, fixing irrigation system leaks and landscaping with low-water-use vegetation — and strategic planning. º£½ÇÉçÇø’s Drought Plan, for instance, helps the city respond to water shortages and preserve water for high-priority uses such as human health and safety, maintaining creek flows and trees.Ìý

Water management in the western United States is an intriguing puzzle. While I thrive on the challenge, I’m most gratified by the mission of serving a community that prioritizes sustainable use of this precious resource. Through collaboration, innovation and engagement with passionate community members, º£½ÇÉçÇø is addressing climate challenges to safeguard its water supply for future generations.

Kim Hutton (Chem, EnvSt’98) is the water resources manager for the City of º£½ÇÉçÇø.Ìý

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