What is the Thornton Water Project?
Thornton is proud to have one of the lowest per-person water use rates in the state and will continue to be a leader in water conservation, but more than conservation is needed to meet the ongoing and future water supply needs of Thornton. With Thornton’s growing population, the future of water – and the supply of it – is more important now than ever. The Thornton Water Project is a pipeline that will bring water purchased by Thornton in the 1980s through Larimer, Weld, and Adams counties to the city of Thornton.
Project overview
In the 1980s, Thornton city leaders foresaw significant growth in Colorado and projected that Thornton Water customers would someday need additional water sources. In preparation for this need, Thornton purchased water rights in the Water Supply and Storage Company (WSSC). This water is diverted from the Cache la Poudre River via an irrigation canal into reservoirs owned by WSSC. For more than 130 years, this water has been diverted from the river and used for farming within the WSSC’s irrigation system. The Thornton Water Project will not divert additional water from the Poudre River. Instead, the same water diversion will continue to deliver water to the WSSC reservoirs, where the Thornton Water Project pipeline will start.
The Thornton Water Project’s 70-mile-long underground pipeline will bring water from the WSSC reservoirs through 10 miles of Larimer County, 48 miles of Weld County, and 12 miles of Adams County to Thornton Water customers. Construction is underway, and portions of the pipeline are already complete! You can learn about the current status on the Thornton Water Project Construction web page.
As of July 2024, sections A and B in Adams County are under active construction. Section C in Weld County is set to begin construction during the fourth quarter of 2024, and Section D in Weld County was completed in 2021. Sections E and F in Larimer County are currently being designed.
Who will benefit from the completion of the Thornton Water Project? And who is impacted now?
Current and future Thornton water customers will realize tremendous benefits from this project with improved water quality and drought resiliency. That being said, a construction project of this magnitude does have impacts. Thornton is committed to being a good neighbor to individuals and communities that are impacted by the construction. Thornton is also committed to meeting or exceeding all regulatory requirements.
The city of Thornton is working to obtain over 600 permits to make this project possible and has worked closely with Larimer, Adams, and Weld counties to create a project plan with the highest overall benefit and lowest possible impact. Thornton works with impacted landowners to maintain access during construction, restore impacted properties to pre-construction conditions, and compensate property owners for easements.
In addition to partnering with impacted property owners, Thornton is dedicated to continuing to be an agricultural steward in northern Colorado. When the city purchased the water rights in the WSSC, the city also purchased over 20,000 acres of farmland. Today, the city still owns 18,751 acres of this land, and the properties are managed by the city’s Agricultural Stewardship Office. The city works with local residents to farm and manage these properties, which significantly contribute to agricultural production and local economies. Other agricultural efforts include partnering with local communities to plan for the future of these properties, ensuring that the agricultural uses within WSSC are protected, and leasing water to farmers for irrigation wells in Weld County.
As stewards of the land and water, Thornton is also focused on making the Thornton Water Project a positive for the Poudre River. The pipeline project does not include any new diversions, only different uses of water already being diverted. To continue to support preservation efforts, Thornton is a partner in “Poudre Flows,” a coalition of partners dedicated to protecting and improving river flows on the Poudre River. Thornton also collaborates with the Poudre Runs Through It Study/Action Work Group and the Larimer Recovery Collaborative to support the Poudre watershed health and fire recovery efforts.
While the water rights Thornton purchased can only be used for Thornton municipal uses, Thornton is committed to being a good neighbor and has agreed to share infrastructure via partnerships with neighboring communities in northern Colorado.
The future of water begins today: learn more!
Want to learn more? Check out the Thornton Water Project website for more information and to stay up to date about the project.
Need to get in touch? Drop us a line! Give us a call at 720-977-6600 or send us an email at Water@ThorntonWater.com. For additional resources, visit the Contact Us page on our website.
