Water parks across the western United States, particularly in Colorado, are implementing significant changes to conserve water amid an ongoing severe drought. Denver-area water parks have outlined various strategies to keep their facilities operational while reducing water consumption.
Water World's Efficient Redesign
At Water World in Federal Heights, the newly redesigned Summit Canyon area is set to open as planned. According to Kellie Flowers, the park's community relations manager, the renovated section was built with water efficiency in mind and will use approximately 30 percent less water than the attractions it replaced. "It's not the first time we've encountered a hot, dry summer," Flowers stated, emphasizing the park's experience in dealing with arid conditions.
Water World employs a sophisticated filtration system that allows the park to fill its pools and attractions at the beginning of the season and then treat and reuse the same water throughout the summer. "We have a really great filtration system in the water park," Flowers explained, "so we fill up our pools and attractions at the start of the year, and then we're actually able to treat and clean that water and safely reuse it throughout the attractions all summer long."
The Summit Canyon area replaced attractions that were nearly 40 years old. Flowers noted that the refresh was necessary to modernize the park and ensure it can serve the community now and in the future. While all attractions will operate normally this summer, the park is cutting back on nonessential water use, including limiting irrigation on lesser-used grassy areas and scaling back flower beds across the property.
Visitor Impact and Operations
Water World averages about 500,000 visitors each summer, which Flowers says helps justify its ability to remain open even during dry years. The park's water-efficient practices are crucial for maintaining operations without compromising the visitor experience.
Elitch Gardens' Similar Approach
Just under a 20-minute drive south, Elitch Gardens Water Park in Denver also opened for the summer over Memorial Day weekend. Spokesperson Katelyn Beets confirmed that the park operates with a similar filtration system that recirculates water throughout the season. "At this time, we do not anticipate any changes to pricing, attendance, or our operating calendar, including opening dates," Beets told Denver7.
Broader Drought Context
The moves come as Colorado and much of the West are dealing with low snowpack this year, which means less melting snow feeds 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. This exacerbates a larger 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 Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest reservoirs in the U.S., towards record lows. This raises ongoing concerns about future water supplies and power generation. Experts warn that falling levels threaten hydropower production at dams like Hoover and Glen Canyon, which supply electricity to about 2.5 million people. Critical thresholds for power generation are heading towards concerning levels if the trend continues.
Water parks are adapting to these challenges by implementing efficient water management practices, ensuring they can continue to provide recreation while contributing to overall water conservation efforts in the region.
