Contents
Matthew Staver
Winter 2013
Water is… 8 A Source Why wildfires disrupt water supplies and have water utilities working in the forest, too; When it comes to source water protection, prevention is best; Opportunities to lend a hand protecting local water sources.
9 Conservation How utilities maximize efficient water use; Watering restrictions and conservation messages help stretch scarce water supplies; Outdoor water use trivia.
10 Snow Mountain snowpack serves as a natural reservoir, but that reservoir is at risk; Snowmaking can make up for some lack of natural snowfall, but has its limitations; An Arizona ski resort becomes the first to make snow with treated wastewater.
12 Opportunity Why water and wastewater utilities are gearing up now to fill job vacancies; Cheat sheet for entering the water utility workforce; Water utility recruiters are going green.
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36 DIY: Have a WaterSense Weekend Water conservation is a great excuse for a bathroom makeover. Plan a weekend to change out three bathroom fixtures for their water-saving counterparts, and watch the savings, both in water and energy costs, roll in. By Frank Kinder
13 The Rising Cost of Bringing Water to a Faucet Near You By Caitlin Coleman Water rates have gone up dramatically over the past 20 years, and customers want to know why. Utilities aren’t out to turn a profit; they’re just trying to keep up with their own rising costs—for everything but the kitchen sink. 18 Beyond the Tap By Jerd Smith A labyrinth of water infrastructure lies beneath our city streets. And it’s getting old. Just what does it do for us, and how much attention—and funding—will its maintenance and replacement require? 23 The Art and Science of Pricing Water By Chris Woodka Some utilities get tax dollars, others don’t. Some charge higher tap fees for new development, while others have higher rates. Ultimately, every utility must bill customers for their water use in order to cover costs, but each does so differently. A look at the not-so-simple process of setting rates, and why we aren’t all paying the same. 28 Water Quality’s Front Line By Dan Gordon Water moves into and out of our homes daily, coming in clean and going out dirty. On either end, someone is treating that water to keep it varying degrees of clean. Regulations stipulate the contaminants that must be filtered out, whether the water is destined for our bodies, our lawns or our rivers. It’s a protective barrier that wasn’t always in place.
Kevin Moloney
On the Cover: Steve Ryken of Ute Water Conservancy District in the Grand Valley.
Steve Hellman climbs out of the mechanical room at Aurora’s Charles A. Wemlinger water treatment plant.
Headwaters | Winter 2013
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