Home | SharedSourceBrenMESM

The Environmental Challenge

Thanks to technological advances, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are detectable almost everywhere in trace amounts. However, uncertainty surrounding their effects on people and the environment makes it difficult for drinking water utilities to incorporate them into water quality protection planning.

Our Client

Denver Water is a drinking water utility that serves ~1.4 million people in the Denver Metro area. They want to understand the threat CECs may pose to drinking water quality in their collection system.

Study Area

Upper South Platte Basin, Colorado
Denver Water’s primary water supply
~ 4000 square miles
Mostly undeveloped
Popular outdoor recreation destination

Approach

To achieve our objectives, we developed a four step approach and applied it to Denver Water.

Key Findings

1. Wastewater treatment plants are the primary source of contaminants.

2. Recreation also has impacts, but they are harder to quantify.

3. Pharmaceuticals pose a very low risk to Denver Water.

4. More information is needed to assess risk for certain contaminants.

5. A period of initial data collection is needed to establish baseline conditions.

The Dream Stream is located in the study area and draws thousands of visitors per year.

Photo: Hugh Carey

Read More Details Here

Read our methods for developing a risk-based monitoring plan here!

Click for Guidance Document

What's next?

We presented our work to a public audience on April 26, 2019, and graduated from the Bren School June 14, 2019.

Acknowledgements

We would like to extend our deepest thanks to: our faculty advisor, Dr. Arturo Keller and our PhD advisor, Nicol Parker; our partners at Denver Water, especially Alison Witheridge; our external advisor, Dr. Patricia Holden; the Bren School community for their support and feedback.