[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13799-S13800]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 1848. A bill to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater 
Study and Facilities Act 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.


              The Denver Water Reuse Project Authorization

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I take the time today to reintroduce a 
bill that will help millions of water consumers throughout my state. 
This bill is based on S. 2140, legislation I introduced last year, 
which passed out of the full Senate.
  The Denver Water Department has developed a unique plan to re-use 
non-potable water for irrigation and industrial uses. In the arid West, 
where growing populations and changing values are place increasing 
demands on existing water supplies, water and availability remain 
important issues. Recent conflicts are particularly apparent in the 
West where agricultural needs for water are often in direct conflict 
with urban needs. This legislation will help remedy some of this 
conflict.
  This bill authorizes the Denver Water Department to access federal 
funds to assist in the implementation of this plan. The State of 
Colorado, the Colorado Water Congress, the Denver Board of Water 
Commissioners, and the Mayor of Denver have fully endorsed this 
legislation. I am pleased to assist these interested parties with this 
worthwhile proposal.
  The Denver Water Department serves over a million customers and is 
the largest water supplier in the Rocky Mountain region. Over the past 
several years Denver Water has developed a plan to treat and re-use 
some of its water supply for uses not involving human consumption, such 
as irrigation and industrial purposes. In this manner, Denver will 
stretch its 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 will be 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 make potable water supplies available 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 serve 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.
  In the West, naturally scarce water supplies and increasing urban 
populations have furthered our need for water reuse, recycling, 
conservation, and storage proposals which are the keys to successfully 
meet the water needs of everyone. 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 the interested parties for 
their support, and I am hopeful this bill can be quickly passed and put 
into effect.
  I ask unanimous consent that the bill and copies of letters of 
support from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado 
Water Congress, the Denver Board of Water Commissioners, and the Mayor 
of Denver be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1848

       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 Wastewater and Groundwater 
     Study and Facilities Act (43 U.S.C. 390h et seq.) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating sections 1631, 1632, 1633, and 1634 
     (43 U.S.C. 390h-13, 390h-14, 390h-15, 390h-16) as sections 
     1632, 1633, 1634, and 1635, respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after section 1630 the following:

     ``SEC. 1631. DENVER WATER REUSE PROJECT.

       ``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary, in cooperation with 
     the appropriate State and

[[Page S13800]]

     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.--Funds provided by the Secretary shall 
     not be used for the operation or maintenance of the project 
     described in subsection (a).''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) The Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and 
     Facilities Act (as amended by subsection (a)(1)) is amended--
       (A) in section 1632(a), by striking ``1630'' and inserting 
     ``1631'';
       (B) in section 1633(c), by striking ``section 1633'' and 
     inserting ``section 1634''; and
       (C) in section 1634, by striking ``section 1632'' and 
     inserting ``section 1633''.
       (2) The table of contents in section 2 of the Reclamation 
     Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 is amended 
     by striking the items relating to sections 1631 through 1634 
     and inserting the following:

``Sec. 1631. Denver water reuse project.
``Sec. 1632. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 1633. Groundwater study.
``Sec. 1634. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 1635. Willow Lake natural treatment system project.''.
                                  ____

                                 Office of the Executive Director,


                              Department of Natural Resources,

                                     Denver, CO, November 1, 1999.
     Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Campbell: I am writing to support the 
     inclusion of the Denver Water Nonpotable Reuse Project on the 
     Title XVI authorizing list. Inclusion of this project 
     recognizes the importance of creative procedures to meet 
     future water needs for metropolitan Denver. As it becomes 
     more and more difficult to provide water supplies for a 
     rapidly growing metropolitan area, innovative projects such 
     as reuse and conjunctive use must supplant existing capacity. 
     Denver Water's reuse plant will produce over 1,000 acre feet 
     of usable water supply by treatment of effluent for 
     industrial and irrigation purposes. The reuse water will be 
     treated to attain important public health standards even for 
     those limited purposes.
       Resuse of water is valuable not only for Denver, but for 
     other areas of Colorado. Reuse of water will delay the need 
     to develop new water supplies from other water sources. This 
     project has wide-spread support in Colorado. Your efforts to 
     see Denver Water's Nonpotable Reuse Project listed as a 
     Bureau of Reclamation approved project are appreciated. Thank 
     you for your consideration.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Greg Walcher,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                      Colorado Water Congress,

                                     Denver, CO, October 25, 1999.
     Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Campbell: As you well know, the chronic water 
     shortages in Colorado have forced Colorado Water supply 
     agencies to develop water in new and ingenious ways. One of 
     the best water projects being planned is Denver Water's 
     Nonpotable Reuse Project that will take water already used, 
     treat it and deliver it for industrial and irrigation supply. 
     This project will supply about 15% of Denver's anticipated 
     water shortfall without building a new reservoir, without 
     tremendous federal compliance costs, and without a new 
     transbasin diversion.
       The Water Congress has members throughout the state of 
     Colorado; and I know of no opposition to this project. I 
     understand you are trying to get the project listed pursuant 
     to Title XVI of the Bureau of Reclamation approved reuse 
     projects list. You have the support of the Colorado Water 
     Congress. Thank you for your consideration in this endeavor.
           Sincerely,
                                              Richard D. MacRavey,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                                   Denver Board of


                                          Water Commissioners,

                                     Denver, CO, October 27, 1999.
     Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Campbell: I appreciate your support and 
     sponsorship of the bill that adds the Denver Nonpotable Reuse 
     Project to Public Law 102-575 Title XVI, the U.S. Bureau of 
     Reclamation's authorized list. This project allows us to 
     conserve potable water sources and helps us to defer 
     importation of water from the Western Slope. As I think you 
     know, we are only seeking authorization, not federal funding, 
     for the Denver Reuse Project.
       We are planning a project that will provide over 15,000 
     acre-feet of nonpotable supply. That, in turn, frees up 
     enough treated water supply to provide for some 30,000 homes. 
     It represents a substantial portion of the supply that will 
     be needed for future demand in the Denver Water system as an 
     expanding population strains our limited water resources. By 
     reclaiming wastewater for irrigation and industrial use, we 
     can serve growth in a way that is environmentally responsible 
     and economic.
       Please feel free to call upon us should you need further 
     information or assistance.
           Sincerely,
                                                       H.J. Barry,
     Manager.
                                  ____

                                        City and County of Denver,


                                     City and County Building,

                                     Denver, CO, November 2, 1999.
     Hon. Ben Nighthorse Campbell,
     U.S. Senator,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Campbell: Once again, I want to express my 
     appreciation for your support of legislation adding the 
     Denver Water Non-potable Reuse Project to the Bureau of 
     Reclamation's approved projects list.
       We are proud to include non-potable reuse, coupled with 
     water conservation and system refinements, as core components 
     of the Denver Water 20-year plan. We certainly acknowledge 
     the importance and value of our limited water resources 
     throughout Colorado. Reuse efforts allow us to reduce or 
     minimize the Denver metro area's demands on limited Colorado 
     River sources.
       Once again, thank you for your support.
           Yours truly,
                                              Wellington, E. Webb,
                                                            Mayor.
                                 ______