DU Water Literacy Photovoice Project

Is this enough water for you, and 5 million others? (Jenn Murdock)

As of 2021, Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in terms of population growth and economic development. It has long been known, however, that Denver faces water challenges with potentially disastrous consequences. Eighty percent of Colorado's population lives on the eastern side of "The Divide" yet 80% of available water naturally flows west. This conundrum has forced water managers to build dams, reservoirs, and diversions that funnel water hundreds of miles across basins and mountain ranges to strengthen Denver's water security. More than half of the Front Range's water supply is diverted from the Upper Colorado River. While this makes Denver and the Front Range relatively rich in terms of water resources, what will be the consequences of our diversions for the wilderness and wildlife that has attached so many people to Colorado?

Dillon Reservoir, aptly named for the town that it was built upon and flooded, was completed in 1963. Water stored here is diverted water from the Blue River Basin, through the Harold D. Roberts tunnel, and underneath the Continental Divide into the South Platte River Basin to supply water to the Front Range communities.

Loveland Pass in a Snow-Crested Form (Zac Abero)

Many of Colorado's mountains are critical to the water resources of the Denver County area. The above photo is of Loveland Pass, I took this photo on my way to go snowboarding. I think that the snow adds a unique beauty to the mountains of Colorado, that can also be seen covered in vegetation in the Summer, the contrast just goes to show how dynamic Colorado as a state is, and that dynamic nature is on a very fragile balance.

Where is our Water? (Zach Norton-Nunez)

As mentioned in the artist biography, Zach is from the Midwest and lives on the Great Lakes. Obtaining water is never that big of a problem, as we can see and take from the Great Lakes and the surrounding rivers, and groundwater. Denver and Colorado are not as fortunate as there is no large body of water that can be used to provide for those living here and in the West. But where does the water come from? In this photo you can see in the back large formations of clouds dumping what seems to be snow or rain. This is one primary way Denver and Colorado get their water, from snowmelt from the mountains. One reason for it being hard to convey water issues in Colorado could be because it's hard to see our water, as it comes from precipitation, and is stored in isolated mountain peaks at the source, versus a large lake that is at the edge of the city like Chicago.

A stream next to Golden Gate Canyon Road (Zac Abero)

I think this photo puts in perspective how important mountain streams that connect to Denver's by beautifying the streams. This visual motivates me to keep our resources intact as they are not only helpful to us as humans, but also a beautiful feature of nature that serves many ecosystems besides our own.

Snowmelt (Hayden Schneider)

I come from rural Kansas where we get our water straight from an aquifer. Coming to Denver and learning about how snowmelt is captured and used to supply Denver is fascinating to me. This photo was taken on a hike in Red Rocks park. To me, it is wild that this kind of topography exists, let alone is used to funnel the water we use on a daily basis in Denver.

The Journey of Urban Water - Part 1 (Jenn Murdock)

Top Left: Ditches and water infrastructure networks are constructed across cities to collect runoff from impervious surfaces that blanket urban landscapes. They also collect trash, pollutants, chemicals, and bacteria, all of which end up flowing right back into the water cycle. The water is treated but only after it has arrived and left treatment facilities. Top Right: Tunnel built to allow Clear Creek to flow east, underneath a highway bypass.

The Journey of Urban Water - Part 2 (Jenn Murdock)

Bottom photo: The NISP/Glade project, a massive dam-and-reservoir project, will divert 35% of the Cache La Poudre's water to Denver suburbs through these tunnels. The Thornton pipeline, which is just a portion of the NISP project and a controversial topic among rural residents and urbanites, has its origins dating back to the 1980s when the city of Thornton purchased Weld County farmland, not for agricultural purposes but for water. The ecological fallout of this project will be devastating for the wildlife, such as Rainbow Trout, of the Poudre River as well as to agricultural land reliant on these waters.

Reflecting on Water (Eleri Smart)

The Denver Botanic Gardens have always been a place of calm within the business of the city, along with many interesting plants designed in beautiful gardens, the ponds are also designated in a specific way. If you've ever been to these gardens you'll notice that the pond water is completely black. At first I had no idea why/how the water was so dark but we learned that they added a non-toxic black dye to the water to limit the amount of sunlight that was able to reach the bottom of the pond. This was an interesting thing to learn and observe of how the botanic gardens use their water, and how water can be used in conjunction with other things to influence the habitat it provides.

Faded Signs (Hayden Schneider)

The running water pictured is Smith's Ditch in Washington Park just north of the University of Denver. As a student, I spend a lot of time at the park and became curious about where the water in Smith's Ditch flows, so I decided to follow it. Every sign I saw, including the one pictured on the bridge above the ditch, was worn away. I see this word sign as a symbol of how much information is really out there for the public or not. If I wasn't introduced to the inner workings of the Denver water supply through my hydrology class, I am not sure how I would know anything about it considering the little signage that exists and is up to date on and around campus.

Collage of Rayleigh Scattering from Ash (Zac Abero)

Rayleigh scattering is an event in which ash, or small particulate matter "blocks" certain wavelengths from entering our visible spectrum by scattering them, therefore, longer wavelength photons such as red don't deflect as easily, therefore are more prevalent when these particles enter the sky.

In these 3 photos, you can see how the ash created from the Cameron Peak Fire polluted the sky and created a red-orange haze across all of Denver. This ash was very heavy, as all throughout this day the ash would irritate your lungs and eyes. I think that this is the precursor to the potential problems Colorado could be facing in the near future due to climate change. With more droughts on average, this could mean some serious issues with water availability. Decreasing water availability means a decline in production for agriculture which plays a key role in the industry of the state. Not only that, the beautiful mountains that drive many snowsports enthusiasts to come visit could also lose precipitation during the winter season, meaning less fresh, natural powder for people to enjoy.

Overall, I think that this is a drastically important topic that needs as much attention as possible, because our state is so beautiful, why wouldn't we preserve that beauty for future generations to experience?

The Geese are Back! (Angel Fernandes)

I experience and interact with water resources and information in and around the DU community by visiting places, like Wash Park, and interacting with the creatures who depend on the water resource there. This image shows some Canadian geese walking along the frozen lake bank of Wash Park. The geese need the water to survive. They need it to drink water and they need it for shelter. We need the water resources just like geese do. We depend on the water the same way. That is why when it comes to interacting with the resources, I think of how important it is to us because of water's many uses.

Down the Drain (Caroline Daley)

Where does our water go when we wash it down the drain?

From bathing, to washing, cleaning, and eating, the average Coloradan consumes nearly 175 gallons of water each day. With senior water rights, the city of Denver has a profound privilege in regards to water availability and usage. The South Platte, Colorado, and Arkansas rivers each contribute to our consumptive needs. While our drains bear the "Denver, CO" insignia, the majority of our water travels hundreds of miles through massive trans-basin diversions. How often do we really consider how and where we acquire our water from? How often do we consider the ramifications of our own "water" footprint?

This photo is an in-depth capture of the shower drain in the University dormitories. A wonderfully global population, students travel from a wide variety of "water" backgrounds around the world. Water unifies students as the ways in which Denver acquires water is specific to Colorado's unique topography.

Through the Looking Glass (Caroline Daley)

In general, public understanding of water is often murky and shrouded in mystery.

From where and whom we obtain our water is not common knowledge. How do private and public sectors control the composition and volume of Denver Water? In order to protect and conserve this necessary resource, public water literacy is essential. Often leveraged as means of environmental injustice, urban water consumers deserve the right to public knowledge and information regarding their water.

Colorado is home to a myriad of "voiceless" consumers. Water sustains the state's unique flora and fauna and shape the landscapes we love so much. Looking beyond the obscurity of water literacy lies an urgent call for a clearer understanding and emphasis on conservation.

Dorm Drinking Water (Juanlin Liu)

Usually we can hear students complaining that the water taste is bad. If you lived in the dorm before, you probably know some people buy water from convenience stores or fill their water bottle with the dining hall water. So I asked my friend to take this photo from our school tap water. We can see the water is not very clear and has some minerals in it. These sediments may cause the water flavor to not be good to drink. On the other hand, water pipes contamination can cause bad water quality. People or campus should check the water pipes or tap frequently to make sure our water is safe to drink.

Campus Pond (Juanlin Liu)

I took this photo from my favorite angle. I want to show you guys about what the lake looks like in my mind. I usually go for a walk around this pond, and my friends love walking their dogs around this pond. This is a really nice place because it is safe and close to get there. I usually use this pond for de-stressing from my assignments and exams.

Three's a Crowd (Eleri Smart)

Earlier this fall the city of Denver sent out Britta water filter jugs to all of the residents living in houses where the water is supplied through lead piping, all of these old houses have been living with the lead-contamination since they were built but there was a spike in lead levels starting in 2012 that led to more investigation and actions being taken by Denver Water. My household had no idea that our water was flowing through lead piping until this fall when a Britta and an informational packet was left at our doorstep. Needless to say we were all shocked that this was the first we were hearing of it, and we took it upon ourselves to get another two filter systems for our house along with the Britta jug that was sent to us. All of the water we use for drinking and cooking is filtered through the sink and then filtered again through one of the two Britta filters on the counter.

Light at the End of the Tunnel (Caroline Daley)

Ditches like the south Denver subject of this photo, are often overlooked as markers of urban development, yet they held an undeniable role in bringing life and vegetation to the dusty and dry grasslands of the front range. Firstly, miners, farmers, and settlers diverted water for personal use through the arbitrary construction of trenches. Today, it is against the law to divert water from any source for personal use as initial settlers once did. While the legal repercussions of drainage ditches have shifted, our consumptive mindset remains.

As the photo progresses into the foreground, dreary shadows transition into brighter tones, representing a transition from a dark, consumptive past into a more conservative and equitable water future.

Snow Way Home (Zach Norton-Nunez)

This is a photo of a random Denverite walking home down Buchtel during a winter storm. While the snow can be harsh for travel, especially when there are blizzard conditions, we must be grateful for it as it is one of our primary sources of water. With storms seeming to be less frequent, and harsher when they do arrive, a question arises, is this sustainable for the current water usage we see for the average citizen in the city of Denver, and is the University of Denver taking this into account as well?

An Evening in Kuwait and Denver (Angel Fernandes)

My experience with water around DU differs from my home country because my home country is mostly desert. The only reason you see water here in this picture (on the right), which is a picture I took of the beach in Kuwait, is because people carved a shape to hold the water. Then people deposited the water here and made a man-made beach. This is different in the US. The US does have man-made buildings and structures like dams and seawalls that are somewhat hurting the environment.