The Continental-Hoosier System
The Continental-Hoosier raw water collection system (CHS) - also known as the Blue River System - is a transmountain system that moves water that is sourced from the Colorado River and South Platte River basins to the Arkansas River basin for use by Colorado Springs customers.
CHS is gravity fed, which means it doesn't require any pumping to reach storage reservoirs near Colorado Springs before going to treatment. It's comprised of a series of diversions and intakes, three tunnels, two reservoirs, and several pipelines.
The system diverts stream flows from upper tributaries of the Blue River watershed and Middle Fork of the South Platte River and stores that water in Montgomery Reservoir, located near Fairplay, Colorado. From there, water flows through the Blue River Pipeline to local terminal storage reservoirs on the North Slope of Pikes Peak and Rampart Range.
Providing a safe, reliable water supply
The Continental-Hoosier System
- Serves 13% of Colorado Springs' drinking water demands when considering first use - the first time it's collected from snowmelt, treated and used by customers.
- Increases the amount of demand we can meet as the water can be - and is - fully reused.
- Is the only system solely owned and operated by Colorado Springs Utilities.
- Is our only system that is completely gravity flow for more than 70 miles of pipeline.
- Provides critical redundancy to other systems and reliable service through drought and emergencies.
Water conservation and water projects
To permit water projects, we must carefully manage our water supplies and have strong conservation programming. For the proposed Montgomery Reservoir expansion, understanding how much water we need in the future is not enough; we must also prove that our operations efficiently use our current water sources and our conservation efforts support our goals. Our conservation programming is some of the most successful in the state.
Between now and 2030, Colorado Springs Utilities will nearly double investments in water conservation programming. It's our goal to save more than 2,191 acre-feet of water annually, which is like saving nearly the amount of water in our South Catamount reservoir every year.
Saving water is slow and steady work. Small actions build over time, leading to bigger savings. Our conservation programs work to build upon annual savings to stretch our community’s water supplies. Doing this means we can support growth, a strong local economy and a high quality of life, despite climate variability.
Did you know?
Since 2001, water use in Colorado Springs has gone down by 40% while our population grew more than 92%.
A critical system, then and now
The Continental-Hoosier System (also known as the Blue River System) is Colorado Springs’ first and oldest transmountain water diversion project.
- Colorado Springs purchased the interests and concept for the system in 1947.
- Hoosier Tunnel construction began in 1949.
- Hoosier Tunnel was completed in 1952 and water began flowing to Colorado Springs.
- Montgomery Reservoir was completed in 1957 at a capacity of 5,699 acre-feet of storage, with plans for enlargement as Colorado Springs grew into available supplies.
- Upper Blue Reservoir was completed in 1966.
Quick fact
The Continental-Hoosier System was a critical water supply and deciding factor for the United States Air Force Academy locating in Colorado Springs.
