Overview of the Problem and Summary of the Proposed Water Plan
The proposed water plan for Denver Co. is geared towards addressing the challenge of water scarcity, deteriorated infrastructure, and quality problems by implementing a comprehensive establishment. The plan suggestions include improving water efficiency, diversifying sources, enhancing infrastructure, creating public awareness, and restoring and safeguarding ecosystems. The proposed plan costs 2.22 billion to create a sustainable and consistent water system for the city. The plan will be crucial in solving water issues worsened by climatic change. The proposed strategies suggest changes to the current operations and are based on scientific and technical knowledge and community involvement to implement adaptable solutions appropriately.
Denver has been facing water issues for several decades, which can be attributed to several issues. The number of homes without water is estimated to increase if sustainable measures are not established to resolve the issue. Denver receives approximately 15 inches of precipitation yearly, which may not be adequate to meet the region’s water requirements (Calahan, 2022).
Additionally, Denver is located in a semi-arid part, relying on snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains. The frequency and severity of droughts have increased, aggravated by climate change. Denver receives water from the earth’s surface, including the South Platte River, Colorado River, and other mountain streams.
Water is stored in reservoirs, treated, and supplied through a comprehensive system comprising pipelines, tunnels, and canals. After several years without an upgrade of the infrastructure, it appears to be aging, resulting in water loss and deterioration of quality (Xu et al., 2020). Denver’s water issues have forced residents to cope with water restrictions, including limits on outdoor water use and drinking bottled water due to water quality issues.
Additionally, water scarcity has impacted the city’s economy, particularly the agricultural sector. Due to uncertainties linked to weather forecasts, monitoring water shortage throughout the year may not be sufficient to know the exact expectations. One dry year may extend to several years without properly predicting how the situation will last. With the understanding that water shortages cannot be predicted with certainty, Denver should be prepared with contingency plans to ensure they are ready for the worst.
Detailed Assessment of the Water Plan
The proposed plan comprehensively addresses the city’s water challenges and includes strategies to increase water efficiency, diversify water sources, improve infrastructure, protect and restore ecosystems, and educate the public. A water plan should consider budgetary and demographic considerations, including the city’s population growth and current and future climate stress (Conservation Board, 2021).
However, the plan’s cost of $2.22 billion is high and may pose political challenges to its implementation. The plan addresses the city’s high population, which is expected to keep growing. Further, it addresses the uncertainty related to climate change that may happen unexpectedly.
The biggest strengths of the proposed plan are its comprehensive approach to addressing Denver’s water challenges, considering current and future water issues, and including strategies to protect and restore ecosystems. Another strength is the focus on public education and outreach to create awareness regarding the significance of water conservation and create a culture of responsible water usage (Denver Water, 2021).
The biggest weakness is the cost of $2.22 billion, which may lead to political challenges during its implementation. Further, the plan could benefit from more emphasis on addressing water quality issues. However, the plan does not conflict with the lessons from this semester. The water supply system should be sustainable depending on the cost and materials (Bolognesi, 2022). The cost should match the current market value of the required materials.
References
Bolognesi, T., Pinto, F. S., & Farrelly, M. (Eds.). (2022). Routledge Handbook of Urban Water Governance. Taylor & Francis.
Calahan, S. (2022). Optimizing Bioretention Media with Vegetation for Stormwater Treatment in Denver, Colorado (Doctoral dissertation, Colorado School of Mines).
Conservation Board. (2021). Colorado’s Water Plan. Conservation Board. Web.
Denver Water. (2021). Conservation. Denver Water. Web.
Denver Water (2021). Water Shortage. Web.
Xu, Z., Yao, L., & Chen, X. (2020). Urban water supply system optimization and planning: Bi-objective optimization and system dynamics methods. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 142, 106373. Web.