Colorado waterparks forced to make changes due to severe drought

As states across the West, including Colorado, deal with ongoing drought and water shortages, Denver-area water parks are outlining changes to keep facilities open while conserving water.

At Water World in Federal Heights, the new Summit Canyon area is still set to open as planned. The redesigned section was built with efficiency in mind and will use about 30 percent less water than the attractions it replaced, according to Kellie Flowers, the park’s community relations manager, who spoke with Denver7.

"It's not the first time, you know, we've encountered a hot, dry summer," Flowers said Sunday. "We have a really great filtration system in the water park, so we fill up our pools and attractions at the beginning of the year, and then we're actually able to really treat and clean that water and safely reuse it throughout the attractions all summer long."

She continued, "The attractions in that area were aging; they had been in the park for nearly 40 years, so it was time for a refresh. But in doing that, you know, we really wanted to make sure that it was modern, that it kind of was able to serve our community now and into the future.”

The park’s attractions will operate as normal this summer, but it is cutting back on nonessential water use to reduce its overall demand. That includes limiting irrigation on lesser-used grassy areas and scaling back flower beds across the property, Flowers said.

Water World averages about 500,000 visitors each summer, which helps explain why it is allowed to remain open even during dry years, she said.

Meanwhile, just under a 20-minute drive south, Elitch Gardens Water Park in Denver, which also opened its doors for summer over Memorial Day weekend, operates with a similar filtration system that recirculates water throughout the season, according to park spokesperson Katelyn Beets.

"At this time, we do not anticipate any changes to pricing, attendance, or our operating calendar, including opening dates," Beets told Denver 7.

The moves come as Colorado and much of the West are dealing with low snowpack this year, which means less melting snow is feeding rivers and reservoirs that supply water for cities, farms and recreation. Warmer temperatures are also causing snow to melt faster, leaving less water stored for the dry months.

That is adding to a bigger water shortage across the Colorado River Basin, which serves about 40 million people in seven states. Years of drought and heavy water use have pushed the two largest reservoirs in the U.S., Lake Mead and Lake Powell, towards record lows, raising ongoing concerns about future water supplies and power generation.

Experts also warn that falling levels threaten hydropower production at dams like Hoover and Glen Canyon, which supply electricity to about 2.5 million people, with critical thresholds for power generation heading towards concerning levels if it continues to drop.

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