Earth Day, April 22, is a day to celebrate and honor all that Mother Earth does for human life.

But what about the other 364 days?

Denver Water takes environmental stewardship seriously, every single day. The utility’s employees and its customers have taken steps big and small to protect and care for the earth.

So, in honor of Earth Day, here are a few examples of the many ways Denver Water is working to serve and support the environment every day.

Gathering and using data to improve

Denver Water not only tracks its greenhouse gas footprint, it uses that information and data to reduce its impact on the environment.

Denver Water is part of The Climate Registry, a nonprofit collaboration that sets consistent standards to calculate, verify and publicly report greenhouse gasses. For water utilities, this can include tracking and reporting data for pumping, fuel and treating water, such as at our Moffat Treatment Plant (above).

Using the power of water

Throughout history, people have tapped into the power of moving water. Denver Water’s system has seven hydroelectric plants, including one at the dam at Williams Fork Reservoir shown above. The plants collectively generate more than enough energy to power all of the utility’s pump stations and water treatment plants.

Being efficient with water

Denver Water isn't alone when it comes to using water wisely. Customers also have done a lot over the years to use water as efficiently as possible.

For instance, during the summer of 2022, the peak day of water use for Denver Water customers was 33% lower than the utility’s highest-ever use day, which occurred in 1989. The reduction came despite significant population growth.

You can keep up the efficiency ethic by checking out these tips and tools to use water wisely inside and outside your home.

Reducing our trash

In 2022, Denver Water’s employees diverted 55 tons of waste from Colorado’s landfills.

Throughout the year, employees separated their waste into bins dedicated for recycling, composting and trash. All told, some 34,350 pounds of waste were sent for composting. An additional 75,601 pounds of material was sent for recycling.

Recycling and reusing water

Recycling and reusing the precious resources the earth provides is great for the environment. Denver Water has long recycled water for use in outdoor irrigation system and industrial operations. Seen here are purple pipes that carry the recycled water.

And in 2018, Denver Water took things to the next level, partnering with WateReuse Colorado on a demonstration project to clean and reuse water, which was then made into a craft beer to celebrate the utility’s 100th anniversary.

Protecting the source

As the water provider to 1.5 million people in the Denver metropolitan area, Denver Water directly depends on healthy forests and watersheds. Since 2010, the From Forests to Faucets partnership between Denver Water and the U.S. Forest Service has aimed to reduce the potential for destructive wildfires and, by doing so, protect water supplies and water quality.

That partnership expanded in 2018 to include the Colorado State Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The partners have committed a total of more than $96 million to the partnership since its inception in 2010 through work planned into 2027. From 2010 through 2022, Denver Water and partners have treated more than 120,000 acres of forested land.

Making history

The Colorado River Cooperative Agreement, signed in 2013, heralds a new approach to water in the West. Denver Water’s collaborations with West Slope partners bring strength and health to Colorado’s rivers and streams.

That work continues, with Denver Water joining water utilities across the West in August 2022 in a commitment to substantially expand existing efforts to conserve water, reduce demands and expand reuse and recycling of water supplies.

Celebrating Earth Day, every day

We work to celebrate and support the environment every day — and we have lots of fun along the way. Denver Water's climate scientist, Laurna Kaatz, finds skiing a great way to connect with water.

Happy Earth Day!