[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5698-S5699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 2140. A bill to amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and 
Adjustment Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
participate in the design, planning, and construction of the Denver 
water reuse project; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                 denver water reuse water authorization

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I take the time today to introduce a 
bill that will help millions of water consumers throughout my state. 
The Denver Water Department has developed a unique plan to re-use non-
potable water for irrigation and industrial uses. This bill would 
simply authorize the Denver Water Department to access federal funds to 
assist in the implementation of this plan. The Mayor of Denver has 
fully endorsed this legislation. I am delighted to assist the Mayor and 
the great City of Denver.
  Denver Water Department serves over a million customers and is the 
largest water supplier in the Rocky Mountain region. Due to uncertain 
water supplies in the semi-arid west, it is critical to make wise use 
of every drop of water. With this in mind, over the past several years 
Denver Water has developed a plan to treat and reuse some of its water 
supply for uses not involving human ingestion, such as irrigation and 
industrial purposes. In this manner, Denver will stretch its

[[Page S5699]]

water supply without the cost and potential environmental disruption of 
building new reservoirs. It will also ease the demand on fresh 
drinking-quality water supplies.
  The Denver Nonpotable Reuse Project will treat secondary wastewater, 
that is water which has already been used once in Denver's system. It 
is an environmentally and economically viable method for extending and 
conserving our limited water supplies. The water quality will meet all 
Colorado and federal standards. The water will still be clean and 
odorless, but since it will be used for irrigation and industrial uses 
around the Denver International Airport and the Rocky Mountain Wildlife 
Refuge, the additional expense to treat it for drinking will be 
avoided.
  The nonpotable project is constructed in three phases and ultimately 
will result in an additional useable water supply of 15,000 acre feet. 
The use of the nonpotable water for irrigation and industrial customers 
will free potable water supplies for up to 30,000 homes.
  Construction will include a treatment plant and a distribution system 
that is separate from the potable water system. Phase I will serve 
customers in the vicinity of the reuse plant, including a Public 
Service Company power plant, other industrial users and other public 
areas. Phase II will add irrigation for parks and golf courses in the 
former Stapleton Airport and the recently closed Lowry Air Force Base 
redevelopment areas. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal, which is being 
converted to a national wildlife refuge, will also use the reuse water 
to maintain lake levels on-site and to provide water for wildlife 
habitats. Phase III will service existing parks as well as new 
development of a commercial corridor leading to the Denver 
International Airport. With the construction of Phase II, the 
irrigation, heating and cooling, and car washing facilities at Denver 
International Airport will convert to reuse water, where a dual 
distribution system has already been installed.
  This plan would benefit many Coloradans, and would help relieve many 
of the water burdens faced in the Denver region. Again, I'd like to 
thank Mayor Webb for his support, and I am hopeful this bill can be 
quickly passed and put into effect.
  I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the Mayor's letter and the 
bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the items were ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2140

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DENVER WATER REUSE PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--The Reclamation Projects Authorization and 
     Adjustment Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 1631, 1632, and 1633 (42 
     U.S.C. 390h-13, 390h-14, 390h-15) as sections 1632, 1633, and 
     1634, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 1630 (43 U.S.C. 390h-12p) 
     the following:

     ``SEC. 1631. DENVER WATER REUSE PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the appropriate State and local authorities, may participate 
     in the design, planning, and construction of the Denver Water 
     Reuse project to reclaim and reuse water in the service area 
     of the Denver Water Department of the city and county of 
     Denver, Colorado.
       ``(b) Cost Share.--The Federal share of the cost of the 
     project described in subsection (a) shall not exceed 25 
     percent of the total cost.
       ``(c) Limitation.--The Secretary shall not provide funds 
     for the operation or maintenance of the project described in 
     subsection (a).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) The table of contents in section 2 of the Reclamation 
     Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 
     prec. 371) is amended--
       (A) by redesignating the items relating to sections 1631, 
     1632, and 1633 as items relating to sections 1632, 1633, and 
     1634, respectively, and
       (B) by inserting after the item relating to section 1630 
     the following:

``Sec. 1631. Denver Water Reuse Project.''.

       (2) Section 1632(a) of the Reclamation Projects 
     Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (as redesignated by 
     subsection (a)(1)) is amended by striking ``1630'' and 
     inserting ``1631''.
       (3) Section 1633(c) of the Reclamation Projects 
     Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (as redesignated by 
     subsection (a)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 1633'' 
     and inserting ``section 1634''.
       (4) Section 1634 of the Reclamation Projects Authorization 
     and Adjustment Act of 1992 (as redesignated by subsection 
     (a)(1)) is amended by striking ``section 1632'' and inserting 
     ``section 1633''.
                                  ____



                                    City and County of Denver,

                                         Denver, CO, May 15, 1998.
     Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Campbell: Please accept this letter as a 
     statement of my support of the Denver Water Nonpotable Reuse 
     Project. Your willingness to sponsor this worthwhile 
     legislation adding the Denver project to the Title XVI 
     authorized list is appreciated by the City and County of 
     Denver. Nonpotable reuse has been identified as a critical 
     element in the Denver Water Department's recent Integrated 
     Resource Plan. Coupled with conservation and system 
     refinements, it forms the core of the water supply needs for 
     the Denver system for the next 20 years.
       As you are well aware, the water resources in Colorado are 
     limited and valuable. Reuse conserves potable water sources. 
     This project will help to fulfill Denver's obligations under 
     water decrees that provide for the importation of water from 
     the Colorado River Basin. Those obligations require Denver to 
     exercise reasonable steps which, in view of legal limitations 
     and economic feasibility, provide for the reuse of imports so 
     as to reduce or minimize Denver's demands on Colorado River 
     sources.
           Yours truly,
                                               Wellington E. Webb,
                                                            Mayor.
                                 ______