Aurora Water’s mission is to deliver safe, reliable, high-quality and sustainable water, sewer and stormwater services for over 400,000 residents living in Aurora, Colorado.
Because it is a large city not located near major water sources, Aurora Water has always had to be creative, pioneering, and forward-thinking in its efforts to meet its community’s water needs.
Aurora started its own water department in the 1950s and city leaders had the foresight to charge the water department with creating a diverse portfolio of water resources. Through the years, effective planning has ensured that the growing community had a safe, reliable water supply, on which we still rely.
Aurora receives 95% of our water from surface water sources, with the remaining five percent coming from deep aquifer groundwater wells. Today, Aurora Water has acquired water rights in three river basins – the Colorado, Arkansas and South Platte – and stores water in 12 reservoirs and lakes, bringing water to our homes and businesses from up to 150 miles away. Moving and treating our water involves an extensive process that includes these reservoirs and lakes, natural river system, pipes, tunnels, pumps and purification facilities.
Aurora has more than 156,000 acre-feet of water storage, which, when filled to capacity, is enough to supply the city with water for up to three years.