Parker Water director outlines supplies, conservation steps and Platte Valley plan

Ron Redd, director of the Parker Water and Sanitation District, told the Douglas County Water Commission on Sept. 22 that Parker has a multi‑source water portfolio and is pursuing partnerships and conservation measures to meet rapid growth.

Redd said Parker’s portfolio includes roughly 39,000 acre‑feet of Denver Basin groundwater “on paper,” Cherry Creek native flows averaging about 4,500 acre‑feet per year, roughly 1,000 acre‑feet of Cherry Creek alluvial water, about 4,800 acre‑feet of legally credited reuse in current operation (with build‑out above 10,000 acre‑feet), 1,600 acre‑feet of WISE water, and a junior 2019 South Platte water right of about 9,400 acre‑feet located near Sterling. He also described about 5,000 acre‑feet of senior agricultural rights Parker owns in the Sterling/ILiff area that would require water‑court action to use municipally.

Why it matters: Parker is growing and the district’s infrastructure must meet high seasonal peaks. Redd said Parker’s current average day demand is about 10 million gallons per day (MGD) and peak day demand is about 25 MGD; buildout projections through about 2050 put average day demand at about 21 MGD and peak day above 55 MGD if current practices continue. Redd told the commission that…