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A major part of our One Water strategy is the Water Recycling System in the Administration Building, which employees named RUFUS. It stands for ReUse For Us, and it will treat wastewater from the Administration Building through a multi-stage treatment system to meet the highest state standards for recycled water. That treated water then will be reused for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation at the Administration Building.

The most noticeable portion of RUFUS is the wetlands in the lobby and behind the Administration Building. The three, large basins include plants and rock in the top with treated water running underneath.

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Healthy forest lands help ensure high-quality water is delivered to our reservoirs. Trees, shrubs and grasses naturally filter precipitation before the water reaches streams and rivers. Forests must be cared for over time to sustain these functions. Proper forest management helps enhance forest resilience to fire, insects and disease.  

Investments in proactive forest management by Denver Water have already proved successful at protecting our watershed. In June of 2018, a wildfire broke out in Silverthorne, Colorado. With red flag drought conditions, a wildfire in the area would have caused $913 million in damages from the loss of homes and infrastructure. Instead, firefighters were able to aggressively combat the flames from fuel breaks implemented through From Forests to Faucets funding. No homes were lost from the wildfire.

Denver Water is committed to delivering safe water to our customers. The water that we provide to homes and businesses is lead-free, but lead can get into the water as it moves through lead-containing household fixtures, plumbing and water service lines — the pipe that brings water into the home from the main in the street — that are owned by the customer. 

The Lead Reduction Program was approved in December 2019 by the Environmental Protection Agency and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The program has five main components: 

• pH adjustment: Increasing the pH level of the water to reduce the risk of lead and other metals getting into drinking water from lead service lines or household plumbing. 
• Inventory: Developing and maintaining a publicly accessible inventory of all customer-owned lead service lines in Denver Water’s service area. The service line is the pipe that brings water into the home from the main in the street. 
• Lead service line replacement: Replacing all of these lead service lines with copper lines at no direct charge to the customer. 
• Filter program: Providing a free water pitcher, filter and replacement filters, certified to remove lead, to all customers suspected of having lead services lines until six months after their line is replaced. 
• Ongoing: Communication, outreach and education programs.