Denver One Water Program

Development and climate change are creating new challenges and opportunities for Denver’s water infrastructure and waterways. Following extensive planning and community input, an unprecedented coalition of local water resource agencies has developed Denver's first citywide water strategy, achieving a critical goal identified in the Denveright Comprehensive Plan 2040.

The Denver One Water Plan charts a course for holistic and resilient water management and land use strategies for Denver through collaboration, multi-benefit projects, and strong policies that promote healthy watersheds in an equitable, economically, and environmentally beneficial manner.

One Community, One Future, One Water


Denver One Water Plan(PDF, 14MB)

Denver's Urban Water Cycle

The unprecedented partnership between the City and County of Denver, Denver Water, Mile High Flood District, Metro Water Recovery, The Greenway Foundation, and Colorado Water Conservation Board – the One Water Leaders (OWLs) – has helped to break down historical silos between drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and other water uses.

  • The region's water supply comes from precipitation like rain and stormwater, surface water collected in reservoirs like the Cherry Creek reservoir, and ground water. Denver Water is the first entity in the system that collects, treats and distributes clean drinking water to its service area.
  • Once that water is used by us – in sinks, toilets, showers, etc. – the wastewater travels through Denver's collection system to Metro Water Recovery, who is in charge of cleaning it and returning it to the environment. Denver Water cleans a portion of the flow further, providing recycled water for irrigation, industrial cooling, park management and other uses throughout the city.
  • When large storms roll through the front range, Denver and the Mile High Flood District oversee managing that stormwater and building effective flood control and warning measures, so that people and property are protected.
  • Local non-profits like The Greenway Foundation also play a vital role in this cycle – educating the community and working to reclaim the South Platte Rive and its tributaries from a virtual cesspool to a place of environmental and recreational pride.
  • It's all one water!
Denver's Urban Water Cycle infographic showing flow of water and evaporation cycles


By working together, each agency's strengths can be leveraged to implement cooperative water management strategies that reflect and take advantage of the interconnected water cycle.

One Water Fact Sheet(PDF, 8MB)          One Water Fact Sheet (Espanol)(PDF, 3MB)

Additional Information

Benefits of One Water

  • Increased communication and collaboration between water management agencies for regional water planning, land use, and community development projects.
  • Enhanced community awareness of water management challenges and opportunities through stakeholder engagement and public outreach.
  • A roadmap for sustainable solutions across the entire water cycle that is based on best practices and inter-agency collaboration.

Denver One Water Project Examples

  • 39th Avenue Greenway: Projects like the 39th Avenue Greenway, which cleans and controls stormwater before it enters the South Platte River are critical to improving the health of our urban watersheds, while also providing open space and community amenities such as parks and trail connections.
  • National Western Center Campus: The National Western Center (NWC) Campus is a project led by the City and County of Denver (CCD) and the National Western Authority. As one of the largest infill redevelopments in the county and with 1/2 mile frontage on the South Platte River, NWC offers the ability to demonstrate new and innovative One Water practices, including:
    • Educational programming and promoting water related research at the new Colorado State University Spur Hydro building
    • Restoration of the South Platte Riverfront improving land and water health while providing opportunities for recreation and environmental education
    • A sewer-heat recovery system allowing the campus to source nearly 90 percent of its heating and cooling from an underground sewer pipeline, linking energy efficiency to reclaimed water management

Denver One Water Progress

The One Water Leaders (OWLs) are actively advancing key Implementation Actions tied to each of the five overarching goals for water management in Denver. Learn more about the OWLs' progress below.

Denver One Water program goals

Denver One Water Day

Denver One Water Day 2025 Agenda Announced

What To Expect
  • Keynote Presentation: Featuring Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt on the intersection of land use, water planning and stormwater management.
  • Expert Panel Discussion: Industry leaders will share strategies for managing stormwater to benefit the urban water cycle.
  • Audience Q&A: Engage with experts directly.
  • Optional Lunch & Networking: Continue the conversation over lunch in the Gardens.
  • Watershed Summit: Attend the annual Shed Summit from 1-5 p.m., followed by a networking happy hour at 5:00 p.m.
  • Registration includes access to the Watershed Summit in the afternoon, happy hour and full access to Denver Botanic Gardens on June 20. Lunch may be purchased as an add-on to registration. We hope to see you there! 

One Water Day Agenda

  • 9:00 a.m.: Doors Open
  • 9:45 a.m.: Welcome & Keynote Presentation with Moderated Q&A
    • Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt
  • 10:15 a.m.: Panel Discussion – Managing Stormwater for Community Benefits
    • Blue Baldwin – Tucson Water, City of Tucson
    • Sarah Anderson – City and County of Denver
    • Shannon Spurlock – Pacific Institute
    • Sybil Sharvelle – Colorado State University
    • Moderator: Katie Spahr – Denver Water
  • 11:20 a.m.: Panel Discussion Moderated Q&A
  • 11:50 a.m.: Conclusion & Break for Lunch
  • 1:00 p.m.: Watershed Summit Begins

One Water Day attendees are invited and encouraged to stay for the afternoon Watershed Summit, which includes a panel discussion focused on salinity management organized in collaboration with One Water Day. Happy hour in the Gardens will follow the program.

Denver One Water in the News

Check out Water Education Colorado's Headwaters magazine for a deep dive into One Water principles and how they've taken shape in Colorado and Denver.

Archive Documents and Videos

As part of the Denver One Water planning effort, a community survey was completed by nearly 800 people.  A summary of results can be found below.

A Community Workshop: Draft Plan Review was held on July 20, 2021 and a recording of the meeting can be seen below

The One Water Advisory Group (OWAG) held Denver One Water Plan Meeting #2 on November 10, 2020 and a meeting presentation can be found below.

The One Water Advisory Group (OWAG) held Denver One Water Plan Meeting #1 on August 27, 2020 and a meeting summary and presentation can be found below.

The first of two community workshops was held October 20, 2020 and a meeting presentation, meeting summary and video can be found below. 

Contact

OneWater@denvergov.org

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