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Protecting and Safeguarding our Water Future The City of Aspen has provided safe and reliable drinking water for the community since 1966. We work around the clock to make sure every drop is safe and provides the vital resource our community needs to live, work, and recreate. As a community that relies on snow for our water supply, we often think about time: yesterday's snow is tomorrow's glass of water and the source for all our daily needs. Thinking about tomorrow is what we are focused on today. Our Water Source Water for the Aspen community originates in pristine watersheds for home, business, agriculture, and recreational use. Primarily fed by snow from the Elk Mountains, Aspen’s water comes largely from Maroon and Castle Creeks. Because the City has limited storage, current flows and the City’s water rights dictate availability.
A Roadmap for Our Water Future In planning for our region’s future, we recognize that our community faces the challenges of a changing climate and the need for adaptation. Over the past 25 years, the average temperature in Aspen has risen 3 degrees, while snowfall has dwindled by 16% and population has risen by nearly 10 percent. With the average annual water demand projected to increase in the next 15 years, this future landscape makes securing a safe and reliable water supply an important priority for the City of Aspen.
The strategic water planning process now underway, also referred to as Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) is a holistic approach to the management of water systems that combines supply, demand, quality, environmental protection and enhancement, financial planning, and public engagement. With climate change, a growing year-round population, increasing risk of wildfire and drought, and little water storage, it is essential for the City to actively plan and implement tactics for a safe and reliable water supply. In addition, the 50-year plan will help build on the community's water conservation successes, optimize use of the City’s current water rights, and provide direction on conditional water rights the City holds.
Below are tabs for you to engage with us on what issues and values you want to share with us around Aspen's long-terms planning process in additions to tabs focused on water vulnerability and water supply. In addition, there is a tab marked "Questions". If you have any, let us know and we will get back to you.
Protecting and Safeguarding our Water Future The City of Aspen has provided safe and reliable drinking water for the community since 1966. We work around the clock to make sure every drop is safe and provides the vital resource our community needs to live, work, and recreate. As a community that relies on snow for our water supply, we often think about time: yesterday's snow is tomorrow's glass of water and the source for all our daily needs. Thinking about tomorrow is what we are focused on today. Our Water Source Water for the Aspen community originates in pristine watersheds for home, business, agriculture, and recreational use. Primarily fed by snow from the Elk Mountains, Aspen’s water comes largely from Maroon and Castle Creeks. Because the City has limited storage, current flows and the City’s water rights dictate availability.
A Roadmap for Our Water Future In planning for our region’s future, we recognize that our community faces the challenges of a changing climate and the need for adaptation. Over the past 25 years, the average temperature in Aspen has risen 3 degrees, while snowfall has dwindled by 16% and population has risen by nearly 10 percent. With the average annual water demand projected to increase in the next 15 years, this future landscape makes securing a safe and reliable water supply an important priority for the City of Aspen.
The strategic water planning process now underway, also referred to as Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) is a holistic approach to the management of water systems that combines supply, demand, quality, environmental protection and enhancement, financial planning, and public engagement. With climate change, a growing year-round population, increasing risk of wildfire and drought, and little water storage, it is essential for the City to actively plan and implement tactics for a safe and reliable water supply. In addition, the 50-year plan will help build on the community's water conservation successes, optimize use of the City’s current water rights, and provide direction on conditional water rights the City holds.
Below are tabs for you to engage with us on what issues and values you want to share with us around Aspen's long-terms planning process in additions to tabs focused on water vulnerability and water supply. In addition, there is a tab marked "Questions". If you have any, let us know and we will get back to you.
What supply vulnerabilities are of most concern to you?
Part of planning for a reliable and robust water supply for the community is identifying potential threats that could temporarily interrupt existing or future supply sources. Once identified, measures can be identified to mitigate the most significant vulnerabilities to enhance the resilience of the City's water supply system. The City has identified nine categories of vulnerabilities that could threaten Aspen's current or future water sources. The relative risk of each is driven by the likelihood of occurrence and the consequences if the event did occur. These vulnerabilities include:
Avalanches- Avalanches in the Castle Creek or Maroon Creek watershed could result in temporary interruption to water supply. Avalanches can further result in downed trees, which can increase the severity of wildfires and can contribute to water quality issues in the watershed.
Wildfire- Wildfires have become increasingly common in Colorado. A wildfire in the Castle Creek or Maroon Creek watersheds has the potential to create significant water quality issues feeding into the City’s water treatment facility for months or even years.
Infrastructure Failure- Infrastructure failures can occur in source water diversion and conveyance systems, water treatment facilities, or treated water distribution piping and pumping systems. Infrastructure failure can have a range of potential causes, such as ageing infrastructure.
Power Outage- A power outage can impact both treatment, distribution systems, or groundwater pumping. An extended power outage could have more severe implications.
Water Treatment Plant Outage- Water treatment plant outages can occur from individual unit process failures. Ongoing maintenance and asset management is therefore key.
Source Contamination- Source contamination, whether in surface water supplies or groundwater, can have a wide range of causes. This in turn can impact the ability of existing processes to treat water to potable quality.
Supply Chain- Supply chain disruption can impact the ability to maintain operations, whether associated with chemicals used to treat and disinfect the water, or in the ability to access supplies and equipment such as spare parts. Supply chain issues can be local or global.
Malevolent Acts- Malevolent acts, including physical disruption, water quality impacts, or cybersecurity can pose potential threats to water supply, treatment, and delivery systems.
Staff Turnover- Ongoing training is critical for maintaining institutional knowledge in the water system.
The City is seeking community feedback regarding mitigation of these threats, and identification of any additional supply vulnerabilities not described here.
What values are most important when considering supply options?
A wide range of factors can be considered when comparing water supply strategies and defining the "portfolio" of individual supply sources to meet Aspen's future needs. Currently, the City's water comes from Maroon and Castle Creeks. In the future, water supply can be augmented with the areas on this photo in yellow.
Potential considerations when looking at future supply can include:
Water Quality
Instream Flow Protection
System Reliability (Year-round) and Robustness
Emergency Supply Reliability
Energy Footprint
Climate Resilience
Adaptability / Ability to Phase In
Operational Complexity
Unit Supply Cost
The City is seeking community feedback regarding the relative importance of each of these considerations in guiding water supply decisions, and identification of any additional considerations not described here.
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Community Water Plan Engagement One
This was the first session of public engagement that was a virtual meeting. It took place November 18, 2020. Public input is an essential component of the final water plan.
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Community Water Plan Public Engagement Two
This was the second session of public engagement that was a virtual meeting. It took place January 14, 2021. Public input is an essential component of the final water plan.
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Community Water Public Engagement Three
This was the third session of public engagement that was a virtual meeting. It took place March 3, 2021. Public input is an essential component of the final water plan.