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 reducing peak demand is the single most effective way to avoid large future capital costs.

The district described several demand‑management tools and programs. Parker has a full advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) roll‑out to all customers and reports about half of accounts are signed up to use the customer notification platform (AquaHawk) to detect leaks and unusual use. Redd gave an example: “we knew within 15 minutes and it was fixed within 4 hours” when an irrigation valve dumped water into a storm drain. Parker offers Slow the Flow evaluations, a popular “Garden in a Box” xeric planting program, turf‑removal rebates (in partnership with South Metro), controller/sensor rebates, and an inclining residential rate structure meant to mimic a water budget.

On reuse and storage, Redd said Parker is building pipeline and capture infrastructure to move treated reuse water and other sources into Rueter‑Hess Reservoir. He said current permitting requires treated reuse to return to Cherry Creek, and that state permitting capacity is a constraint: “they will if you haven't heard, they're behind, and they think they can get to us in about 3 years.” Redd described Parker’s work to reduce phosphorus from roughly 0.2 mg/L natural background down to 0.05 mg/L for reuse storage, a costly treatment step.

Long‑term supply projects: Redd outlined the Platte Valley partnership, a proposed Lower South Platte project that pairs municipal need with agricultural water rights. Under the plan Parker and partners estimate average annual yields of roughly 17,000 acre‑feet each in good years and would store or convey that water to benefit both agriculture and municipal users. Parker remains in water court on its filings; Redd said his team and Castle Rock are aiming for an October 2026 consolidated water‑court date, though he said negotiations with objectors continue and he expects settlement is possible before the date.

Groundwater and credits: Redd described 39 active Denver Basin wells in Parker’s system (about 16.3 MGD capacity today, rising toward 18 MGD as wells under construction come online) and emphasized groundwater as a drought‑bridging supply. He also described Parker’s developer credit policy: varying credit for Dawson, Arapahoe and Laramie‑Fox Hills wells and surcharges for lower‑quality or costly water sources to reflect realistic yield and treatment costs.

Recreation and partnerships: Redd highlighted the Rueter‑Hess Recreation Authority, a multi‑jurisdictional partnership with Douglas County and nearby cities that funds recreation improvements at Rueter‑Hess Reservoir without raising Parker’s water rates. He said the reservoir drew about 72,800 visits in its first eight months of public programming this year, including 7,000 reservoir visits and more than 3,500 special events.

Quotes: “I don't know. It's dark down there,” Redd said referring to uncertainty in translating Denver Basin paper water to reliable annual yield. He added that owning a junior 2019 right out east and other supplies “is why I sleep good at night.”

What’s next: Redd said Parker is finishing a water‑resource plan (targeted for 2026), continuing water‑court work on the Platte Valley filing, pursuing reuse permitting and building pipeline capture, and developing more aggressive turf‑reduction expectations for future development.

Ending: Commissioners asked questions about crediting, the scope of a proposed conveyance pipeline (Redd gave an estimated length of about 120 miles for one long conveyance alternative and a diameter in the 30–36‑inch range), permitting timelines for reuse, and the role of the Perkins Canal on compact obligations. Redd closed by thanking county and municipal partners and urging continued interagency coordination on storage and exchanges.