Bedrock aquifers in the Denver Basin, Colorado: A quantitative water-resources appraisal

Abstract

The Denver metropolitan area is experiencing a rapid population growth which is requiring increasing supplies of potable water to be pumped from bedrock aquifers in order to meet demand. In an effort to determine the ability of the aquifers to continue to meet this demand, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources; the Denver Board of Water Commissioners; and Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert, and El Paso Counties joined with the U.S. Geological Survey in undertaking a hydrologic evaluation of the ground-water resources of the basin. This evaluation involved mapping aquifer extent, thickness, structure, hydraulic characteristics, and water-level and water-quality conditions. Ground-water modeling techniques were then used to simulate aquifer response to various pumpage estimates. and ground-water development plans.