The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved an increased capacity at a treatment plant that provides drinking water to Northern Colorado residents, according to a news release from the North Weld County Water District.
The Soldier Canyon Water Treatment Plant, which is located at the base of Horsetooth Reservoir , serves nearly 150,000 people in the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District, East Larimer County Water District and North Weld County Water District.
“The expansion ensures that we can continue to provide water supplies to match our customers’ future growth needs and provide added resilience to our water supply systems,” Mark Kempton, the general manager of Soldier Canyon Water Treatment Authority, said in the release.
The capacity will increase from 60 to 68 million gallons per day using the existing facilities.
Colorado is home to some of the fastest-growing cities in the country, which increases the demand on water. Climate change is not only reducing stream flows across the state, but it can also increase demand if people need more water during warmer times.