The quality of our Nation's waters: Water quality in the Denver Basin aquifer system, Colorado, 2003-05

Nancy J. Bauch; MaryLynn Musgrove; Barbara Mahler; Suzanne S. Paschke

doi:10.3133/cir1357

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The quality of our Nation's waters: Water quality in the Denver Basin aquifer system, Colorado, 2003-05

Nancy J. Bauch·MaryLynn Musgrove·Barbara Mahler·Suzanne S. Paschke

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Abstract

Availability and sustainability of groundwater in the Denver Basin aquifer system depend on water quantity and water quality. The Denver Basin aquifer system underlies about 7,000 square miles of the Great Plains in eastern Colorado and is the primary or sole source of water for domestic and public supply in many areas of the basin. Use of groundwater from the Denver Basin sandstone aquifers has been instrumental for development of the south Denver metropolitan area and other areas, but has resulted in a decline in water levels in some parts of the system. Human activities in many areas have adversely affected the quality of water in the aquifer system, especially the shallow parts. Groundwater in deeper parts of the system used for drinking water, once considered isolated from the effects of overlying land use, is increasingly vulnerable to contamination from human activities and geologic materials. Availability and sustainability of high-quality groundwater are vital to the economic health of the Denver Basin area.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 38.634036452919226° to 40.51379915504413° latitude; -105.99609375° to -103.29345703125° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Nancy J. Bauch, MaryLynn Musgrove, Barbara Mahler, Suzanne S. Paschke. 2014. The quality of our Nation's waters: Water quality in the Denver Basin aquifer system, Colorado, 2003-05. https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1357

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