The Acumen - February 2024

replacing about 80,000 feet of water mains under streets every year while also installing new water delivery pipe where needed. The utility has more than 3,000 miles of pipe in its system, enough to stretch from Seattle to Orlando. In summer 2023, Denver Water began a major project: replacing 5 miles of water pipe under East Colfax Avenue, from Broadway to Yosemite Street. The pipe replacement work is taking place in advance of the upcoming East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit project, which is being led by the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. During the replacement project, Denver Water also will replace any lead service lines the crews encounter. The project is expected to continue until the end of 2024. And in recognition of the drought in the Colorado River Basin, Denver Water and several large water providers across the basin in 2022 Since its Lead Reduction Program started in 2020, Denver Water has replaced more than 21,000 customer-owned lead service lines with lead-free copper lines at no direct cost to the customer. (Photo: Denver Water)

In summer 2023, Denver Water began replacing 5 miles of water pipe under East Colfax Avenue, from Broadway to Yosemite Street. (Photo: Denver Water)

A new water quality laboratory During summer 2023, Denver Water’s new water quality laboratory became fully operational, replacing an older lab built more than 60 years ago behind locked gates at the Marston Treatment Plant, located in southwest Denver near West Quincy Avenue and South Sheridan Boulevard. The new lab is in the Hydro building on Colorado State University’s Spur campus at the National Western Center north of downtown. Denver Water conducts more than 200,000 tests a year on the water it delivers to customers. Locating Denver Water’s water quality laboratory in the midst of CSU’s new, public Spur campus ensures the utility’s water experts will be working near researchers, scientists and others tackling issues surrounding water, agriculture and public health that are important to the metro area, state and region. Two other buildings are at the CSU Spur campus: Vida, which opened in January 2022 and focuses on life and public health; and Terra, which opened earlier this year and focuses on land and food. The campus houses experts dedicated to exploring how the three disciplines intersect — and interact — with each other. Ongoing investments in change As the metro area grows and changes, it’s often an opportunity for Denver Water to upgrade older elements of its system. Denver Water is continuing its investment in

Denver Water conducts more than 200,000 tests a year on the clean, safe water it provides to 1.5 million customers in Denver and surrounding suburbs. (Photo: Denver Water)

27 The Acumen

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