Article Contributed on: 5/20/2008 2:01:53 PM
The Castle Pines North Metro District currently is in preliminary talks about the possibility of storing water in the new South Platte Reservoir in Littleton. The reservoir, which officially was dedicated during a ceremony May 13, will provide surface water to Highlands Ranch residents.
Castle Pines North Metro District General Manager
Jim McGrady said the district is looking at the possibility of utilizing space at South Platte Reservoir as part of its Centennial to Castle Rock Interconnect Pipeline, a project he said he hopes will be designed within the next few months.
"We're partnering with Centennial and Castle Rock for the construction of a major pipeline project from Centennial to Castle Rock," McGrady said. "As part of those discussions, we're looking at the possibility of storing water in South Platte Reservoir on an if-and-when basis."
McGrady said Castle Pines North gets its water from Denver Basin Ground Water wells. Once water is used, it ends up at the Plum Creek Wastewater Authority treatment plant. If the Castle Pines North Metro District is able to use the South Platte Reservoir, water then can be stored at the reservoir and brought back to Castle Pines North via the Centennial to Castle Rock Interconnect Pipeline.
He said utilizing South Platte Reservoir could potentially maximize Castle Pines North's use of reusable wastewater return flows.
"The ultimate benefit is it reduces the amount of pumping from Denver Basin Ground Water," he said. "If there's room in the inn, we could stay the night."
McGrady said the Castle Pines North Metro District hopes to have discussions completed by the middle of July. Once designs for the Centennial to Castle Rock Interconnect Pipeline are finalized, he said the project may be completed by summer 2009.
According to
Sherry Eppers, community relations manager for the Centennial Water & Sanitation District and Metro District of Highlands Ranch, the South Platte Reservoir is approximately 50 percent full and the group hopes it will be completely full sometime this summer.
South Platte Reservoir is located in Littleton, north of C-470, west of Santa Fe Drive and east of Platte Canyon Drive.