One Water - Bringing Utilities Together in Denver

Water scarcity, degradation of water quality, changing regulations and aging infrastructure are causing water management agencies to use a new approach for holistic water management, the “One Water” concept. Historical and institutional barriers have created perceptions that certain types of water are more valuable than others and regulatory frameworks have resulted in fractured water management agencies. One Water treats all types of water as valuable resources and creates opportunities for increased collaboration across water management agencies. One Water is a holistic approach to the urban water cycle matching water source, quantity, and quality with its intended use. One Water achieves the following outcomes: • Matches the most appropriate water source for each use • Maximizes efficient use of all water • Uses potable water only for potable uses • Minimizes discharge of wastewater and stormwater to the environment The One Water approach creates a common framework for developing sustainable water supply options and can be integrated into land-use planning to support changing urban water needs. Since the goal of any One Water project is to address water supply and demand needs in a localized setting, One Water projects may include different components, like recycled water, greywater reuse or rainwater harvesting, depending on the site-specific needs. This allows developers to use common approaches to create customized projects based on local needs. Urban infill in the Denver, Colorado metropolitan area is creating opportunities for developers to use One Water approaches. In Denver, water, wastewater, stormwater, and river management are the responsibilities of separate entities. Each entity has its own set of policies and strategies to advance its goals; however, the policies have generally not been coordinated at a higher level to facilitate the adoption of One Water approaches in Denver. In recognition of this challenge, a coalition of public agencies responsible for water management in Denver has obtained funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board to initiate a Denver One Water Plan with the goals of identifying policy alignments and gaps between the various agencies and develop a prioritization approach to address challenges. In 2020, the project team has identified One Water qualification criteria, agency coordination gaps and potential solutions. General public outreach and advisory board input has also been obtained to help inform One Water approaches in Denver. This paper will summarize the approach, results, lessons learned, next steps, and future recommendations.