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Water authority turns critical eye on itself
A group created more than a decade ago to plan and coordinate the maintenance and development of future water supplies debated its own fate last week.
By Kiersten J. Mayer
A group created more than a decade ago to plan and coordinate the maintenance and development of future water supplies debated its own fate last week.
Representatives from 10 Douglas County Water Resource Authority members agreed Oct. 4 the group still has value and purpose; however, it's often confused with the South Metro Water Supply Authority, which includes only water suppliers. The DCWRA also includes government agencies.
In the face of the creation of other water management groups, Douglas County Water Resource Authority members agreed to consider possible changes to its name and mission statement instead of disbanding.
Tom Grimshaw, DCWRA attorney, said the group has never had power to do projects or obtain water rights, but was intended as a forum for water suppliers, local government and county residents to plan the development of existing and future water supplies.
The creation of an internal Douglas County water team has also muddied the waters, said John Hendrick, general manager for Centennial Water and Sanitation District.
Agreeing to disband would run the risk of creating a disconnect between philosophies of local government, residents and water suppliers, said Ray Bullock of Meridian Metropolitan District.
"The political connection must be there," he said. "People in southwest Douglas County are going to go to the county commissioners, not the SMWSA."
Stonegate Village Metropolitan District representative Ray S. Wells said the question is how to keep local governments and communities involved in water planning.
"I don't think we should leave it to utilities and water suppliers," he said. "I think that's a train wreck. You have to have land use agencies with you."
Hendrick said SMWSA exists to find water sources. While he sees DCWRA as a valuable group, SMWSA needs to move forward.
"As soon as we got the county commissioners and others involved, we spent half our time at the Legislature," he said.
DCWRA was formed in 1992 and participants include Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority, Douglas County, Town Castle Rock, City of Lone Tree, Centennial Water and Sanitation District, Castle Pines North Metropolitan District and others.
Contact Kiersten J. Mayer at kmayer@ccnewspapers.net.
Representatives from 10 Douglas County Water Resource Authority members agreed Oct. 4 the group still has value and purpose; however, it's often confused with the South Metro Water Supply Authority, which includes only water suppliers. The DCWRA also includes government agencies.
In the face of the creation of other water management groups, Douglas County Water Resource Authority members agreed to consider possible changes to its name and mission statement instead of disbanding.
Tom Grimshaw, DCWRA attorney, said the group has never had power to do projects or obtain water rights, but was intended as a forum for water suppliers, local government and county residents to plan the development of existing and future water supplies.
The creation of an internal Douglas County water team has also muddied the waters, said John Hendrick, general manager for Centennial Water and Sanitation District.
Agreeing to disband would run the risk of creating a disconnect between philosophies of local government, residents and water suppliers, said Ray Bullock of Meridian Metropolitan District.
"The political connection must be there," he said. "People in southwest Douglas County are going to go to the county commissioners, not the SMWSA."
Stonegate Village Metropolitan District representative Ray S. Wells said the question is how to keep local governments and communities involved in water planning.
"I don't think we should leave it to utilities and water suppliers," he said. "I think that's a train wreck. You have to have land use agencies with you."
Hendrick said SMWSA exists to find water sources. While he sees DCWRA as a valuable group, SMWSA needs to move forward.
"As soon as we got the county commissioners and others involved, we spent half our time at the Legislature," he said.
DCWRA was formed in 1992 and participants include Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority, Douglas County, Town Castle Rock, City of Lone Tree, Centennial Water and Sanitation District, Castle Pines North Metropolitan District and others.
Contact Kiersten J. Mayer at kmayer@ccnewspapers.net.
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