BOULDER’S WATERWORKS

consolidates and prioritizes capital improvements identified in the Source Water, Water
Quality and Treated Water plans. The City Council accepted the Water Utility Master Plan
in September 2011. 224
The history of the City's waterworks is filled with stories of ambitious efforts that began
more than 150 years ago with the first hopeful turn of a shovel to build Boulder's earliest
irrigation ditch. As a result, Boulder's current residents and visitors have the ability to
turn on a faucet and receive abundant, clear water without giving their actions a second
thought. The past few decades have focused the City's efforts on rebuilding many of its
water facilities that were created many decades ago, and fine-tuning its operations, while
meeting new regulatory requirements for water supplies.
All this was, and is, done with an eye toward Boulder's water needs decades into the future,
just as had been done by the City in past decades when our predecessors assured
today's water supplies. Future Boulder citizens will continue to enjoy the benefits of the
forward-thinking vision and on-going efforts that have resulted in water supplies and a
water system worth admiring.
Hopefully, the preceding pages have given readers an appreciation for water––an image
conjured up by singer and songwriter Bob Nolan in his 1936 recording of Cool Water. The
song was made popular, in 1948, by the Sons of the Pioneers, then recorded by many other
artists, including Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, and Joni Mitchell.
All day I’ve faced a barren waste
Without the taste of water, cool water.
Old Dan and I with throats burnt dry
And souls that cry for water,
Cool, clear water.
The nights are cool and I’m a fool,
Each star’s a pool of water, cool water.
But with the dawn I’ll wake and yawn
And carry on to water,
Cool, clear water.
Sons of the Pioneers version on YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We-nX6qjNWQ
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