History of Denver Water in Timeline

Denver Water is a public water utility serving Denver, Colorado, and some surrounding suburbs. Established in 1918, it's Colorado's oldest and largest water utility. It operates as a public agency and is funded through water rates and new tap fees. It provides drinking water and manages water resources.

1900: Cheesman Dam Failure

On May 3, 1900, the earth fill dam in Platte Canyon was overtopped and swept away by spring floods during its construction. Work began almost immediately on an improved hybrid arch-gravity design for Cheesman Dam.

1901: Election Question Ruled Invalid

In 1901, an election question to approve a bond issued by the city council for $4.7 million was ruled invalid on technical grounds, preventing the city from proceeding with negotiations or construction of its own water system.

1905: Denver Union Water Company Studied Site

As early as 1905, the Denver Union Water Company studied the site for a dam.

1905: Cheesman Dam Completed

In 1905, construction of the Cheesman Dam was finished. At 221 feet in height, it was then the tallest dam in the world, a status it would hold for the next seven years.

1907: Independent Engineers Hired to Appraise Company Assets

In 1907, Independent engineers were hired to appraise the company's assets.

March 1909: Independent Engineers Appraise Denver Union Water

In March 1909, independent engineers valued the Denver Union Water Company at $14.4 million in their report. Both the city and the company rejected this independent valuation.

1910: Negotiations Began Again for the Franchise

As the end of the company's franchise approached in 1910, negotiations began again for Denver Union Water.

1911: Moffat Died

Moffat died in 1911.

November 1918: Denver Buys Denver Union Water Company

In November 1918, Denver residents voted to form a five-member Board of Water Commissioners and buy the Denver Union Water Company's water system for $14 million, creating Denver Water. On November 1, 1918 the papers making the sale official were signed.

1918: Denver Water Established

In 1918, Denver Water was established as a public agency to serve the City and County of Denver and its surrounding suburbs. The utility, funded by water rates and new tap fees, became Colorado's oldest and largest water utility in 1918.

1924: Denver Water Acquired Antero Reservoir

In 1924, Denver Water acquired the Antero Reservoir in Park County, Colorado and Highline Canal for $450,000, facing the need for more water for the city.

1926: Site for Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir Surveyed

In 1926, The site where the South Fork of South Platte River enters Eleven Mile Canyon being surveyed.

1927: Plans Filed for the Roberts Tunnel

In 1927, plans for an even more ambitious diversion (eventually named the Roberts Tunnel) were first filed with the Colorado State Engineer.

1930: Building of Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir Began

In 1930, the building of Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir began.

1931: Reservoirs Completely Drained

In the fall of 1931, the reservoirs were completely drained due to low water flows, highlighting the need for more water storage.

1932: Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir Completed

In 1932, the Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir was completed. With the completion of the new reservoir, it replaced Cheesman as the largest storage facility in the system with a capacity of 97,779 acre⋅ft (120,609,000 m).

October 1933: Application to the Public Works Administration (PWA)

In October 1933, to fund the project to use the pioneer bore of the Moffat Tunnel as a transmountain water diversion from the Fraser River, the city applied to the Public Works Administration (PWA).

March 1934: Dust Storm Swept into Denver

On March 26, 1934, a dust storm, part of the larger Dust Bowl, swept into Denver. Conservation drives were made, but at the same time plans were made to divert water from western Colorado.

1935: Moffat Tunnel Extension Unit Started

In 1935, the second part of the project, the Moffat Tunnel Extension Unit, was started.

June 1936: Water Began Flowing from the West

On June 19, 1936, water began flowing from the west east through the completed water tunnel.

1937: Moffat Tunnel Extension Unit Completed

In 1937, the Moffat Tunnel Extension Unit completed. This second tunnel takes the water from the exit of the first tunnel out of Big Dry Creek and into the Ralston Creek watershed for delivery to Denver.

1938: Williams Fork Reservoir Completed

In 1938, As part of the tunnel project the Williams Fork Reservoir was built to store water for downstream calls.

1939: Second Transmountain Diversion Completed

In 1939, The second transmountain diversion was completed under Jones Pass to divert water from the Williams Fork. Today it is known as the Gumlick Tunnel and it continues to direct its water into Clear Creek.

June 1946: Ground Breaking Ceremony Held for the Tunnel

On June 24, 1946, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the Roberts Tunnel.

August 1951: Blue Line Went into Effect

In August 1951, the "blue line" went into effect. Inside the line Denver Water would continue to sign year to year contracts to provide water, but it also would not guarantee supply.

1952: Denver Gained Right to Blue River Water

In 1952, Denver succeeded in gaining a right to Blue River water, but only half as much as it had initially claimed and with a priority dated to the formal start of tunnel work in 1946.

August 1955: Gross Reservoir Dam Dedicated

On August 2, 1955, Gross Reservoir dam was dedicated.

1955: Bonds Issued to Construct the Project

In 1955, bonds for $75 million to construct the Roberts Tunnel project were issued by Denver.

1957: Metering of new taps

In 1957, Denver Water required all new water taps to be metered.

1958: Vasquez Tunnel Completed

In 1958, the Vasquez Tunnel, completed, moves water diverted from the West Slope into Clear Creek back to the West Slope in the Frazer River by way of Vasquez Creek.

1959: Generating Plant Added in 1959

In 1959, As part of this project the Williams Fork Reservoir was also expanded to its present size and had a generating plant added.

April 1960: Clearing the Land Started

On 22 April 1960, after the engineering plans for the Dillon Reservoir were complete, clearing the land started.

1960: Blue Line Repealed

In 1960, the blue line was repealed. Then the city charter was also amended to allow water contracts longer than one year.

May 1962: Tunnel Completed

In May 1962, Roberts Tunnel was completed.

July 1963: Dillon Reservoir Completed

In July 1963, Dillon Reservoir was completed.

September 1963: Gates of Dillon Dam Closed

On September 3, 1963, the gates of the Dillon Dam were closed to begin filling the lake.

1964: Lawsuits Finally Settled Out of Court

In 1964, lawsuits to prevent the completion or filling of the Dillon Dam were finally settled out of court.

1965: Location Called a Perfect Dam Site

In 1965 the location was called, "a perfect dam site," by George Cranmer, Denver's former city manager of public works.

1966: Bureau of Reclamation Proposed Construction of a Large New Dam

In 1966, the Bureau of Reclamation proposed the construction of a large new dam just below the confluence of the north and south forks of the South Platte River.

1971: Lead pipes banned

In 1971, the use of lead pipes was banned, but many homes were still serviced by them.

1972: Denver Water Board Started Putting Pieces in Place

In 1972, The Denver Water board started to put the pieces in place for its own project.

1977: Water Restrictions Put in Place

In 1977, while the permitting process inched forward, Denver Water put in place water restrictions and reduced the number of new taps allowed by one third.

1977: Foothills Settlement Decree requires water conservation program

The 1977 Foothills Settlement Decree with the Environmental Protection Agency required Denver Water to implement a water conservation program.

1979: Suits Were Settled

In 1979, the suits were settled through negotiation.

1981: The word Xeriscape is coined

In 1981, Nancy Leavitt, a Denver Water secretary, coined the term 'xeriscape' to describe a type of landscaping that requires little to no irrigation.

July 1982: Finalization of the Two Forks Dam project agreement

In July 1982, Denver Water and suburban water providers finalized the Two Forks Dam project agreement, known as the Metropolitan Water Development Agreement. This agreement outlined the cost and benefit distribution of the project, with Denver covering 20% and suburban providers the remaining portion. The project aimed to construct a 615-foot tall dam with the capacity to supply water for an additional 400,000 people in the Denver area.

1982: Per capita water use remains unchanged

In 1982, the per capita water use in Denver Water's service area remained relatively stable, averaging around 188 US gallons (712 L) per person per day.

1983: Reservoir and Treatment Plant Completed

By the summer of 1983, both the new reservoir and treatment plant were completed.

1986: Denver Water files permits to build Two Forks

In 1986, with costs for the environmental-impact statement approaching $30 million, the Denver Water board applied for permits to construct Two Forks Dam.

August 1989: EPA administrator releases report reviewing Two Forks project

On August 29, 1989, Lee DeHihns, the Environmental Protection Agency's regional administrator, issued a report on the Two Forks project, deeming its adverse effects unacceptable and questioning its necessity.

November 1990: EPA vetoes Two Forks project

On November 23, 1990, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, William K. Reilly, announced the agency's veto of the Two Forks project, supported by President George H. W. Bush.

1990: Introduction of higher water rates

In 1990, Denver Water began implementing higher water rates for customers who used larger amounts of water.

1991: Suburban water districts unsuccessfully challenge veto

In 1991, suburban water districts filed a lawsuit challenging the veto of the Two Forks project, but the challenge was unsuccessful.

1991: Denver Water shifts focus to public relations and implements EPA suggestions

Prior to 1991, Denver Water considered public relations a waste of money. After 1991, Denver Water created a new division to manage communication with the public and implemented alternatives suggested by the Environmental Protection Agency, including environmental mitigation, conservation, and water recycling.

April 1992: Denver Water Board President publishes op-ed

On April 25, 1992, the President of the Denver Water Board, Hubert Farbes, published an op-ed in The Denver Post outlining a new direction for the agency after the Environmental Protection Agency's veto of the Two Forks project. Denver Water would no longer take a role in developing major new water supplies for the entire metro area. Hamlet "Chips" Barry III was appointed to lead this change.

1992: All homes have water meters installed

By 1992, all homes in Denver had water meters installed, allowing for the implementation of higher rates for customers with larger water usage which had started in 1990.

1994: Denver Water addresses irrigators' concerns over Wolford water

In 1994, Chips Barry of Denver Water met with irrigators from the Grand Junction, Colorado area to discuss their concerns about the saltier water being released from the Wolford Mountain Reservoir.

1996: Publication of Xeriscape Plant Guide

In 1996, Denver Water, in collaboration with the American Water Works Association, published the Xeriscape Plant Guide to promote water-efficient landscaping.

1996: Buffalo Creek fire impacts Strontia Springs Reservoir

In 1996, the Buffalo Creek fire burned above the Strontia Springs Reservoir.

2002: Hayman Fire impacts Cheesman Reservoir

In 2002, the Hayman Fire burned a large area in the South Platte River basin, reaching the edge of Cheesman Reservoir.

2002: Water usage rate decreases

Prior to 2002 the average per person water usage rate, including industrial, commercial, and residential uses, was 211 US gallons (799 L) per day. By 2002, this had dropped by 19% to 171 US gallons (647 L) per day.

2003: Gross Reservoir expansion project begins

In 2003, Denver Water initiated the Gross Reservoir expansion project to make the water system more resilient to disasters. The project began with applications for permits to raise the height of the dam.

2010: Denver Water begins replanting mountainsides

In 2010, Denver Water began replanting mountainsides with drought-resistant trees to better maintain its waterways after the fires in the South Platte River watershed.

2017: Denver Water receives permission from Federal Government

In 2017, after fourteen years of permitting and planning, Denver Water received permission from the Federal Government for the Gross Reservoir expansion project.

2021: Settlement with Boulder County

In 2021, Boulder County settled with Denver Water regarding the Gross Reservoir expansion project, receiving an additional $12.5 million for reducing environmental and residential impacts.

2021: Estimate of homes with lead pipes

In 2021, Denver Water officials estimated that there were between 64,000 and 84,000 homes still being serviced with lead pipes.

2024: Denver Water Storage Capacity

As of 2024, Denver Water's storage capacity is largely concentrated in the southern collection system, accounting for 90% of the total. The remaining 10% is stored in the northern system, primarily within Gross Reservoir, and collected through the Moffat Tunnel.

2024: Number of service lines replaced

As of 2024, a total of 21,000 lead service lines had been replaced as part of Denver Water's program.

2024: Denver Water Provides Water to 1.5 Million People

In 2024, Denver Water provided water to approximately 1.5 million people living in the City and County of Denver, as well as 75 contractual distributors in the surrounding suburbs.

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