South Metro Water Supply Authority

What South Metro Water Supply Authority does

South Metro Water Supply Authority (SMWSA) is a Colorado special district and joint powers authority established in 2004 that coordinates regional water supply, infrastructure, reuse, and conservation across 14 member water providers in the South Metro Denver region. SMWSA itself operates with a small administrative staff (1–10 employees) and does not deliver water directly to end users; instead, it facilitates shared infrastructure projects and programs on behalf of its members, who collectively serve hundreds of thousands of residents. Its core technical portfolio includes the Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency (WISE) Project — a partnership with Aurora Water and Denver Water that shares supplies via the SMWA Connection pipeline from Aurora's Binney Water Treatment Plant to 10 of its members — Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) coordination (with 100+ million gallons per day of potential capacity identified), the Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation (adding 20,600 acre-feet of storage), the Rueter-Hess Reservoir completed in 2012, and water reuse initiatives including zero-discharge operations at members such as Inverness Water and Sanitation District. Beyond infrastructure, SMWSA runs a slate of conservation and education programs: the EPA WaterSense-labeled QWEL professional landscaper certification, the Water Ambassador K-12 classroom program (operating since 2009), the annual Water Festival, the Model Landscape/Irrigation Ordinance, and the Turf Replacement and Garden in a Box programs delivered through a partnership with Resource Central. The organization's measurable impact includes reducing per capita water demand by 30% since 2000 (reaching 120 gallons per capita per day, ahead of Colorado's 2050 goal of 129 gpcd), reducing groundwater decline from 30 feet per year to approximately 5 feet per year, and shifting the region's non-renewable supply share from 57% historically to 22% as of 2020, with a target of 85% renewable/reuse supply by 2065.

SMWSA's revenue model is a hybrid of member dues and fees (recurring subscription-like contributions from its 14 member water providers in exchange for access to regional coordination, staff support, shared consulting, and policy advocacy) and grant funding from public sources including the Colorado Water Conservation Board, USDA, and other agencies for specific infrastructure and research projects. Member dues fund operating costs and staff (Executive Director, Director of Finance & Accounting, Engineering & Operations Manager, Water Resources Engineer, Executive Assistant & Education Coordinator), while capital projects are typically funded through separate member capital contributions, state/federal grants, and partnered arrangements such as the WISE Project. Pricing for end-user-facing programs is set at the consumer level through member utilities (e.g., the $1 per square foot Turf Replacement Program up to 425 sq ft, and a $25/year QWEL certificate renewal requiring continuing education). The go-to-market motion is community-led: SMWSA recruits members into the regional authority, coordinates infrastructure investments that no single member could undertake efficiently, and drives public education through K-12 programs, professional certification, community events, and conservation incentive programs. Distribution is exclusively through the 14-member provider network, which in turn serves residential, commercial, and institutional end customers across the South Metro Denver geography.

Name

South Metro Water Supply Authority

Legal name

South Metro Water Supply Authority

Website

https://southmetrowater.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Metro Water Supply Authority is a Colorado special district coordinating regional water supply, infrastructure, reuse, and conservation across 14 member municipal water providers serving the South Metro Denver region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Water Supply Coordination

NAICS

Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB), Purple Pipe / Recycled Water Distribution Utilities (Networks, Pressure Zones) (EUANAGAE)

Keywords

• Regional water supply
• Water infrastructure coordination
• Water conservation programs
• Water reuse planning
• Municipal water authority

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenwood Village

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Member Dues and Fees: SMWSA generates revenue through membership dues and fees from its 14 member water providers. Membership provides access to collaborative projects, regional voice on water policy, staff support including executive director and professional engineers, and shared consulting services.
2. Grant Funding: SMWSA receives grant funding from government agencies for water infrastructure and conservation projects. The organization has received financial assistance from the Colorado Water Conservation Board for regional ASR studies and other water projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

South Metro Water Supply Authority coordinates regional water supply, infrastructure development, reuse, and conservation for 14 member water providers in the South Metro Denver region. The authority develops and operates shared water infrastructure projects including the WISE partnership pipeline, Aquifer Storage and Recovery, Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation, and Rueter-Hess Reservoir, while delivering conservation programs such as QWEL professional certification, the Water Ambassador Program, and residential turf replacement programs. Its mission is transitioning the region from non-renewable groundwater to renewable water supplies.

Product overview

South Metro Water Supply Authority operates as a partnership of 14 water providers in the South Metro Region of Denver, Colorado, formed in 2004 to shift from non-renewable groundwater reliance toward renewable water supplies. The organization offers a portfolio of water conservation and education programs including the QWEL Professional Certification (EPA WaterSense labeled landscaper certification), Water Ambassador Program (school-based water education), Turf Replacement Program, and Garden in a Box (in partnership with Resource Central). Infrastructure initiatives include the WISE (Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency) Project, Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation, and Rueter-Hess Reservoir. The organization also hosts the annual Water Festival community event and provides the Model Landscape/Irrigation Ordinance as a resource for member municipalities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WISE Project (Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency) Regional water infrastructure partnership between Aurora Water, Denver Water, and South Metro WISE Authority that shares water supplies and infrastructure through the SMWA Connection pipeline linking Aurora's Binney Water Treatment Plant to South Metro providers, reducing reliance on non-renewable groundwater and serving 10 member providers with renewable water.
• Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Regional Coordination Underground water storage program coordinated regionally that stores water in suitable aquifers through direct injection when water is available and recovers it during drought. SMWSA identifies and pursues ASR pilot projects across member providers, with 100+ million gallons per day estimated potential capacity in existing well fields.
• Chatfield Reservoir Reallocation Project Regional project to reallocate 20,600 acre-feet of water storage in Chatfield Reservoir to increase renewable water supply for the South Metro Region, with SMWSA coordinating participation among member water providers and partners including the Colorado Water Conservation Board and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Rueter-Hess Reservoir Large-scale surface water storage reservoir completed in 2012 through collaboration among Parker, Castle Rock, Castle Pines North, and Stonegate Village District. Enables capture and reuse of renewable water and lessens dependence on non-renewable groundwater.
• QWEL Professional Certification Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) EPA WaterSense labeled professional certification program that provides landscapers with education, tools, and irrigation audit experience to design and maintain water-efficient and sustainable landscapes. Annual renewal of the certificate is $25 and requires 2 continuing education units per calendar year.
• Water Ambassador Program School-based water education program that brings educators and water professionals into K-12 classrooms with activities and engaging presentations to empower students to make wise choices about water. Free for South Metro Region schools.
• Turf Replacement Program Lawn removal program offered in partnership with Resource Central that provides turf removal for $1 per square foot, up to 425 square feet, to help residential customers of member water providers replace lawn with waterwise landscaping and reduce water usage.
• Garden in a Box Low-water garden kit program offered in partnership with Resource Central that provides waterwise garden kits to help residential customers of member water providers reduce yard water usage.
• South Metro Water Festival Annual community water education event featuring hands-on activities, water games, demos, education booths, and family activities, with participation from local water agencies. Held annually at Civic Green Park in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
• Model Landscape/Irrigation Ordinance A comprehensive, locally-focused model ordinance providing water-efficient landscape and irrigation standards developed for the South Metro Region's hydrologic and climate conditions, available to member municipalities and the public.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced per capita water use to 120 gallons per day, one of lowest rates in Colorado
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Denver WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE (Water Infrastructure and Supply Efficiency) partnership where Denver Water shares water supplies and infrastructure with South Metro Water and Aurora Water. Denver receives backup water supply through this collaboration.
• Aurora WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISE partnership where Aurora Water shares water supplies and infrastructure. Aurora benefits from partners who share in the cost of its Prairie Waters Project. The SMWA Connection pipeline connects Aurora's Binney Water Treatment Plant to South Metro providers.
• Resource CentralcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to offer low-water Garden in a Box garden kits and $1/sq ft Turf Replacement Program (up to 425 sq ft) to help customers reduce water usage.
• Colorado Water Conservation BoardmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial assistance for regional ASR study and other water projects. Partner in Chatfield Reservoir reallocation project.
• Colorado Corn Growers AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in $1 million-plus salinity research effort combining field sampling, remote sensing, and machine learning AI.
• Colorado State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSU engineers leading $1 million-plus salinity research effort in Colorado's South Platte River Basin using field sampling, remote sensing, and machine learning AI to understand soil and water salinization.
• US Army Corps of EngineersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOwner of Chatfield Reservoir; determined 20,600 acre-feet of water storage can be reallocated without compromising flood control function.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Resource Central: Colorado-based nonprofit partner delivering Garden in a Box and Turf Replacement Programs on behalf of SMWSA. Enabling/ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, but operationally intertwined with SMWSA's conservation offerings.

Direct peers

• Denver Water: Colorado's largest water utility and a core WISE partner sharing infrastructure and renewable supply with SMWSA. Operates drinking water supply and distribution across the Denver metro area, directly comparable in function though at much larger scale.
• Castle Rock Water: Town of Castle Rock's water utility serving 70,000+ residents and a key SMWSA board member. Comparable municipal water provider focused on renewable supply transition from 100% to 75% renewable by 2050.
• Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District: Regional water conservancy district coordinating water supply and infrastructure across northern Colorado, including the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. Comparable in coordinating multi-utility regional water programs.
• Parker Water and Sanitation District: Special district water and wastewater utility serving Parker, Colorado, and SMWSA member. Collaborated on Rueter-Hess Reservoir and pursues renewable supply transition, directly comparable in scale and mission.
• Aurora Water: State's third-largest water utility and core WISE partner. Operates the Binney Water Treatment Plant and Prairie Waters Project that supply SMWSA members via the SMWA Connection pipeline, making it a directly comparable water supply and infrastructure operator.
• East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District: Special district serving 55,000 residents in the South Metro region and SMWSA board member. Comparable in scale, governance structure, and ASR/well field operations.
• Highlands Ranch Water (formerly Centennial Water & Sanitation District): Special district serving Highlands Ranch and Solstice communities, a core SMWSA member participating in the WISE project and Chatfield reallocation. Directly comparable municipal water and wastewater operator.

Broad incumbents

• Metropolitan Water District of Southern California: Large regional wholesale water authority serving 26 member agencies across Southern California. Operates at a much larger scale but is comparable as a multi-utility regional coordinator delivering imported and treated water.

Regional players

• Colorado River Water Conservation District: Special district focused on Colorado River Basin water management on Colorado's West Slope. Comparable as a Colorado water conservancy authority but operates in a different geography (West Slope vs. South Metro).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-metro-water-supply-authority

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Metro Water Supply Authority