In this issue
Your water rates at work
In the decade ahead, Denver Water will double its efforts to keep up with the challenges associated with aging pipes.
From 2001 to 2011, we have spent more than $60 million upgrading and replacing pipes in our system. During the next decade, we plan to spend more than $130 million on similar projects, an important effort in maintaining a reliable system.
There are more than 3,000 miles of pipe in our system, and they’re getting older each day. A significant portion of our system was installed during the post-World War II boom years. As those pipes near the end of their useful life, we must increase our rates of replacement to keep up with system maintenance. In the next decade, we plan to upgrade or replace more than 200 miles of pipe.
Maintaining our system through replacement and rehabilitation is critically important in order to preserve a good level of service, ensure adequate fire flows, minimize outages and maintain water quality.
Season-end irrigation tips
Autumn is here, and it’s time to clean up your yard and get ready for winter. Rake leaves from your turf and use them in compost piles, or pile up the leaves and use them to cover cold-sensitive perennials.
By the middle of October, or with warnings of a deep frost, winterize your irrigation system. Turn off the water, drain the valves and blow out the lines with compressed air. Backflow valve handles should be left in a partially open position — never fully open or fully closed. Also disconnect, drain and roll up garden hoses.
From now until May, you’ll need to water your trees and shrubs only during prolonged dry periods. Water when the temperature is above 40 degrees and there is no snow on the ground.
And don’t forget to aerate and fertilize your lawn, which promotes a healthy root system before the ground freezes.
PBS series explores impact of water in our region
Learn more about the impact of water on nature, politics, communities and the environment with the Water in the West series on Rocky Mountain PBS, Channel 6.
Upcoming shows include:
American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?
1 p.m., Oct. 16
Providing a definitive look at how the water crisis affects the American Southwest states, this program, narrated by actress Jane Seymour, educates the public about conservation, water reuse, desalination, population growth and future water policies.- Colorado State of Mind
7:30 p.m., Oct. 21
Water experts and policy makers will come together for a balanced, informative discussion about the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, proposed in April by water interests on both sides of the mountains, as well as innovative conservation solutions already underway in Colorado. - Chasing Water
9:30 p.m., Nov. 17
Colorado native and photojournalist Peter McBride sets out to document the flow of the Colorado River from source to sea, only to find the river changed and diminished. Writer John Waterman joins McBride on this 1,500-mile journey. - Walk in the Park — Rivers of the Rockies
6 p.m., Nov. 27
Explores the Colorado, Big Thompson, Cache la Poudre and St. Vrain rivers located within the northern Rocky Mountains. Host Nick Molle traces the sources of the streams — from the top of the Rockies to the Grand Canyon — and explores the scenic natural habitats of the region’s indigenous animals.
Pump station renamed to honor late water leader
In honor of Chips Barry’s countless accomplishments and lasting impact on both the Denver community and the state of Colorado, Denver Water’s Montclair Pump Station was recently renamed the Hamlet J. “Chips” Barry III Facility.
Barry was manager of Denver Water for 19 years, the utility’s longest-serving manager. He died in a tragic accident on his farm in Hawaii on May 2, 2010.
A Denver native, Barry grew up in the Montclair section of east Denver and attended Denver Public Schools. He graduated from George Washington High School in 1962. During Barry’s tenure at Denver Water, the utility implemented a conservation program that is nationally and internationally recognized as a model of success, built a recycled water distribution system, invested millions of dollars in improvements at its treatment facilities, monitored recovery from several devastating wildfires in Denver Water’s watershed and led the work to recover from one of the worst droughts in the city’s history.
The renamed pump station is in the Barry family neighborhood and is part of the recycled water system put into service during Barry’s tenure as manager of Denver Water.
Online videos offer insight into Denver Water
Learn more about Denver Water’s history, organization and conservation measures with a series of short online video clips. Denver Water runs an impressive, complex system, with a rich history and a proud workforce.
You need at least Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher to view the videos, and the clips work best with a high-speed Internet connection.