How long will it take to build SDS?

SDS will be built in two phases. Phase 1 includes the pipeline, a water treatment plant and pump stations. Phase 1 will take between three and four years to complete and could be on line as early as 2012. We would add two reservoirs, exchange conveyance and increase the capacity of the water treatment plant over the next 13 years.

Are there better and less expensive alternatives?

No. The two alternatives under consideration – our Proposed Action through Pueblo County and the Highway 115 Alternative through Fremont County – are the least expensive options analyzed by the environmental impact statement prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation. Our Proposed Action is based on more than 10 years of planning and review. It uses water we own and is the most economical, most reliable and an environmentally responsible option for meeting our future water needs. We studied hundreds of possible combinations before choosing the one we’re proposing.

How will this be paid for?

Everyone who benefits from SDS will be required to help pay for SDS. Existing businesses and residents considering moving here want to be confident we have a dependable water source. While water projects of this magnitude are expensive, our preferred alternative is the least expensive alternative of the numerous possible combinations explored.

Could we recycle our wastewater for drinking water instead of building a new pipeline?

Recycling wastewater would be highly energy intensive, requiring three times more power than the Southern Delivery System. Recycling wastewater would cost at least $600 million to $700 million more than the Southern Delivery System and wouldn’t provide the backup to existing delivery systems provided by SDS. And recycling wastewater can create environmental problems because of solid wastes it generates, which would have to be disposed of in area landfills.

What about water conservation? Can we use water conservation to eliminate the need for a new pipeline?

Colorado Springs has the lowest per capita residential water use on Colorado’s Front Range. In 2007, our community’s water use was more than 5 billion gallons less than in 2001, despite population increases. Even with our excellent record of conservation, we need more water to maintain our healthy economy and quality of life.