Resources on Colorado’s Groundwater

Water is our state’s most important natural resource, and therefore the State of Colorado has published numerous resources on its use. One of the types of water used in Colorado is groundwater, which the Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) defines as “water that occupies the pore spaces or crevices or fractures within soil or rock.” Colorado’s aquifer systems are used for storing groundwater, which the CGS says is used as the sole source of potable water in nineteen Colorado counties.

Our library collection includes numerous reports on Colorado groundwater; search our online catalog for titles. A few of the highlights include:

• Agricultural Chemicals & Groundwater Protection (Colorado Dept. of Agriculture, Colorado State University, and Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment, 2014)
• Artificial Recharge of Ground Water in Colorado (CGS, 2004)
• Drinking Water from Household Wells (Water Quality Control Division, 2002)
• Guide to Colorado Well Permits, Water Rights, and Water Administration (Colorado Division of Water Resources, 2012)
• Ground Water Atlas of Colorado (CGS, 2003; available for checkout in print)
• Ground Water in Colorado: A Primer (CGS, 2002)
• Groundwater Law Sourcebook of the United States (University of Colorado Law School, 2003)
• Groundwater Monitoring Report (Colorado Dept. of Agriculture, 2011. Reports for San Luis Valley, Weld County, and Western Slope)
• How Well Do You Know Your Water Well?: Groundwater and Water Wells in Colorado (Colorado Division of Water Resources, Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment, and Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, 2011)
• The Landowner’s Right to Nontributary Groundwater (Colorado Division of Water Resources, 2011)
• Overview of the Colorado State Domestic Ground Water Discharge Permit Program (Water Quality Control Division, 2008)
• Protecting Your Private Well (CSU Extension, 2009)
• Protocol for a State-Wide Ground Water Quality Monitoring Program and Establishment of a Ground Water Quality Data Clearing House (CSU Water Resources Research Institute, 2004)
• Relative Sensitivity of Colorado Groundwater to Pesticide Impact (Colorado Dept. of Agriculture, Colorado State University, and Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment, 1998)
• The Role of Tributary Ground Water in Irrigated Crop Production in the South Platte Basin (CSU Water Resources Research Institute, 1994)
• Safe Drinking Water: A Colorado Guide for Community Public Water Systems that Use Ground Water (Water Quality Control Division, 2008)
• SB06-193 Underground Water Storage Study Final Report (Colorado Water Conservation Board, 2007)
• Solar-Powered Groundwater Pumping Systems (CSU Extension, 2008)
• Source Water Assessment Report: Ground Water Sources, (Water Quality Control Division, 2004-2007 – reports published for every Colorado county)
• Suggested Sampling Protocol for Ground Water Monitoring Wells (Water Quality Control Division, 2006)
• Surface Water and Ground Water Administration in Colorado (Colorado Division of Water Resources, 2005)
• Synopsis of Colorado Water Law (Colorado Division of Water Resources, 2011)
• Water Smarts: A Homeowner’s Guide to Mountain Ground Water (Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment, 2002)