Editor’s Note: SDA represents many entities charged with providing clean, safe and affordable water. Because of the importance of water and because we understand the need for cooperation and interdependency we interviewed the new head of Denver Water.

Jim Lochead became the new CEO/Manager of Denver Water in June, but he is no stranger to water issues in Colorado. He is the former executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, where he oversaw departments that included the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Minerals and Geology, Water Resources, Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Soil Conservation Board, and State Land Board and Wildlife.

He also was a shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, where he worked on legal issues relating to water rights, interstate and international water matters, Endangered Species Act, public lands and natural resources, state and federal public policy, zoning, land use and real estate development.

Jim recently took the time to answer a few questions regarding his opinions on water issues in Colorado.

Q:What do you see as the biggest challenge facing water providers?
A: Uncertainty. The economy, climate change, regulations for treatment, security issues, watershed health, legal issues with the Colorado River Compact, permitting issues with in-state development and more. Not only will we need to develop new supplies to meet future growth, but we also will have to enhance system reliability and decrease risk by having redundant and diverse supplies, including reuse, conservation and efficiency projects.

Q: How important do you think collaboration between water providers will be in the future?
A: Collaboration will be critical to increase efficiency, enhance flexibility and realize synergies in supplies and distribution. We also will need to collaborate with the West Slope, the agricultural community and downstream states to manage supplies to meet our needs into the future.

Q: What are your thoughts on the aging infrastructure in Colorado?
A: We are not in as bad shape as some areas of the country, but we still have some major issues. We have three dams over 100 years old, canals in our system that were built in the 1930s, and treatment plants (parts of which are old) that are required to meet increasingly strict water quality standards. We’re currently making multimillion-dollar upgrades at Cheesman Dam, which was built in 1905, and Williams Fork Dam, built in the 1930s. A significant portion of our distribution system was installed during the post-World War II boom years. As those pipes near the end of their useful life, we will need to increase our rates of replacement to keep up with system maintenance.

Q: What are your current top priorities at Denver Water?
A:  Completing the mediation with the West Slope and assuring the permitting of the Moffat Collection System Project are the immediate primary goals. We also are in the process of developing a new integrated resource plan, which will be a part of an entirely new strategic vision for Denver Water. It will outline strategies to help us meet our customer water needs at a reasonable cost over the next several decades, while recognizing the uncertainties we will face and maintaining our responsibility to the environment and the resources we impact.

SDA appreciates Jim taking the time to answer these questions, and looks forward to future collaboration with him and the team at Denver Water.