The evolution of water supply and rights
Most people don’t think twice about turning on the faucet and having cool, clean water delivered to them.
But to appreciate the reliable and safe water system that serves the Estes Park area today, one must delve into our water history, a journey marked by evolving water rights, pivotal regulations, and the steady growth of this mountain community.
The roots of Estes Park’s potable water treatment stretch back to January 1906, when F.O. Stanley built a small water system to serve The Stanley Hotel and residence. From this humble beginning, the system expanded to its current size, framed by the unique challenges of water management in a mountain region of a headwaters state.
Our staff of 14 water professionals manages our complicated water system that treats close to three million gallons per day during our peak visitor season. Water reaches our customers through a network of over 125 miles of distribution pipe that includes over 800 fire hydrants and nine treated water storage tanks. The system is operated and monitored by our staff 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Colorado is a headwaters state, the place where four major rivers – the Colorado, Rio Grande, Arkansas, and Platte – begin. Our raw water rights are controlled under the “doctrine of prior appropriation.”
Established in the 1860s, the Colorado Doctrine dictates that the first to use water for a beneficial purpose holds priority. Our oldest water rights are still junior to others who used them first and have priority.
Our water history is driven by availability and the search for reliable supplies. The drought of the 1930s saw “one-third of the farms in Larimer County put up for sale,” and underscored the critical need for robust water management.
In response, the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District was formed in 1937 to jointly operate and maintain the federal Colorado–Big Thompson Project with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
C-BT water is critical to Estes Park, and the water’s journey is an amazing trip. From Lake Granby, water flows through Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Grand Lake, entering the 13.1-mile Alva B. Adams Tunnel and traveling through the mountains of Rocky Mountain National Park, then through the Rams Horn Tunnel, where we pull our water.
The water continues to Lake Estes. The significant elevation drop at Marys Lake and Lake Estes provides lots of energy to generate electricity at their respective power plants, demonstrating a sustainable approach to water resource management.
To maximize our junior water rights, we must adjust our sources based on available supplies, including surface water from Glacier Creek and three water rights transported from the Western Slope via the Bureau of Reclamation tunnel system.
A redundant and reliable water supply, water conservation, and responsible use are crucial to the continued success of the water system that serves Estes Park. Our future water needs appear well-supported by the current supply, provided we maintain our careful stewardship of this essential resource.
Safe drinking water, treatment, and future reliability
The journey to safe drinking water demands thorough and precise treatment and distribution system management.
Colorado’s history of drinking water safety underscores a commitment to continuous evolution. Early challenges, such as Julesburg’s documented disease outbreak in 1849, several waterborne disease outbreaks in the 1960s and 70s, and the 2008 Alamosa waterborne disease outbreak, spurred significant advancements in water regulations and treatment approaches.
The 1970s marked a turning point with the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act by the U.S. Congress, empowering the Environmental Protection Agency to set national standards for drinking water. Colorado responded by implementing rules requiring filtration and disinfection at surface water treatment plants, then adopting the federal surface water treatment rule in 1994.
Water treatment has evolved significantly since the early days of our water system. Initially, treatment plants were simple, providing minimal processing before water reached customers.
Today, our advanced water treatment plants are much more complex, designed to treat raw water whose quality varies based on its source. The Marys Lake treatment plant uses membranes to treat water from the Alva Adams tunnel, part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. The older Glacier Creek treatment plant uses filters to treat water from Glacier Creek. Corrosion inhibitors are added to the treated water, which is then disinfected before being distributed into our water system.
Although our water treatment plants currently meet our needs, they are aging, lack sufficient redundancy, and cannot be easily upgraded to incorporate new treatment technologies.
The Glacier Creek Treatment Plant, built in 1971 and subsequently upgraded, along with the Marys Lake Treatment Plant, operational since 1992 and upgraded in 2010, both have limitations. Specifically, neither facility is equipped for year-round operation nor do they possess back-up or redundant treatment units.
“Even with the endless challenges of our aging plants and the vulnerabilities faced with the limited treatment redundancies of our facilities, the skilled and dedicated Water Division staff work hard every day to ensure that high-quality water is delivered to our community,” reports James Rossi, our water treatment supervisor.
Incorporating the most appropriate advanced, cost-effective, and modern treatment technologies, along with adequate redundancies, into the design of a new treatment facility will strengthen the reliability of our water system. This approach ensures that peak demand can reliably be met even if a portion of the facility is non-operational.
Evolving regulations regarding emerging contaminants, microplastics, and “forever” chemicals necessitate advanced water treatment. Recent regulations include banning lead in plumbing, operator certification, and the 2023 federal Lead and Copper Rule Revision, which requires identifying lead service lines and testing in schools.
The State is also mandating PFAS limitations and treatment if detected (PFAS is currently undetected in our water). New treatment technology is rapidly advancing, offering complex, automated, real-time processes capable of removing previously undetectable contaminants.
According to Deb Callahan, our water quality and laboratory supervisor, “The 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Improvements further increase tap sampling requirements and require strict adherence to corrosion control parameters. In addition, the new PFAS Rule, updated Consumer Confidence Report Rule, and proposed revisions to the Microbial and Disinfection By-Products Rule will be going into effect within the next couple of years. All require increased monitoring, impose stricter requirements, and result in additional compliance reporting.”
Click here to learn more in our annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Our distribution system’s old piping, material, and installation methods make it susceptible to breaks. Jason Lang, our distribution supervisor, is responsible for managing and optimizing the operations of the water piping system that delivers water to each service connection.
“Our team of water professionals is available 24/7 to respond to any emergency and remain vigilant against threats to public health and safety. They take great pride and responsibility in ensuring that the water served to our customers is safe and of the highest quality possible,” explains Lang.
Dedicated professionals operate Estes Park’s water system, ensuring the delivery of high-quality water to our customers daily. Despite the challenges of an aging infrastructure and increased regulations, they consistently meet and exceed service expectations.
We are currently looking to the future, planning major upgrades to our critical water assets. These improvements will increase system redundancy and reliability, enhance our treatment capabilities to comply with future regulations, and optimize system operations, including fire flow protection. These efforts are crucial for upholding your trust and confidence in the high-quality water we deliver.
Click here to learn more about the Town of Estes Park Water Division or for more information 970-577-3619.
Jacqui Wesley is the utilities project manager and Reuben Bergsten is the utlities director for the Town of Estes Park.