ACE25 highlights the importance of water in Denver and across the country

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) kicked off its Annual Conference & Exposition (ACE) on Monday June 9, 2025. The opening general session focused on the rich history of Denver, where the conference is held this year, and the importance of water in people’s daily lives.

How water shaped Denver

David LaFrance, AWWA CEO, grew up in New England where water seemed abundant. He later moved to the Pacific Northwest and eventually landed in Colorado. LaFrance stated in the opening session that he has developed a much deeper and different relationship with water since being out west, emphasizing that everyone’s relationship to water is based on geography and life experiences.

Denver’s existence was unlikely. “We shouldn’t be here,” LaFrance said.

In 1806, explorer Zebulon Pike was ordered by General James Wilkinson to explore the western regions of the Louisiana Purchase. After months of riding on horseback, Pike eventually landed in what would eventually become Denver. He reported a lack of trees and flowing water.

Pike even went as far as saying that there is no hope for a settlement in the region due to the lack of water.

Despite Pike’s reports, water became the very foundation of the city. In 1850, gold was discovered at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. Following the California Gold Rush which began in 1848, the Denver region saw an influx in population.

The area became a central hub for reaching gold and silver mines in the nearby mountains. The street layout of the city was heavily influenced by water, with the grid following the river instead of true cardinal directions.

In 1876, Colorado became the 38^th U.S. state, with Denver becoming the capital in 1881. Simultaneously, AWWA was being founded in St. Louis – the same place Pike started his journey. AWWA eventually moved its headquarters to Denver. LaFrance pointed out that this was a symbolic full circle.

Early on, Denver faced an abundance of challenges, mostly from a shortage of water. The small rivers couldn’t meet growing demands and were used for both supply and waste. The rise in population created such a demand that a dozen companies were competing to supply water.

The winning utility put in a bid to provide water for free and eventually became Denver Water.

LaFrance stated that water creates and sustains communities, even in places where people thought communities wouldn’t exist.

“Water is never easy – it wasn’t then, and it isn’t now,” LaFrance said.

Water systems today face similar challenges to those that Denver experienced years ago. They wrestle with quantity, quality and price.

LaFrance closed by stating that water must be elevated. “When we elevate water, we elevate everything,” he said.

Remaining steadfast during a time of uncertainty

Kathryn Sorenson, director of research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, recently visited a Phoenix surface water treatment plant where workers were performing hazardous chlorine maintenance.

Sorenson said this was the highlight of her year – seeing the workers about to engage in a quiet but heroic act. She highlighted how water workers are the unsung heroes of public health, doing vital tasks to keep water flowing.

With all the uncertainty in the current news cycle, Sorenson was reminded of the resilient nature of water systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilities adapted quickly by isolating operators, finding alternative supplies, halting shutoffs and ensuring critical staff had access to the resources they needed.

In the face of modern uncertainty, Sorenson pulled a quote from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: “All courage is a form of constancy.”

The quote reflects a need for calm, stable leadership amid today’s division, hysteria and regulatory gridlock.

The west is facing a water crisis. In particular, the Colorado River Basin is experiencing a severe drought, with Lakes Mead and Powell experiencing regulatory uncertainty and stalled negotiations on water-sharing rules which expire in 2026. The drought highlights the complex challenges of water management between seven states, 30 tribes and Mexico.

The western U.S. isn’t the only region to face water challenges, however. The east faces many challenges of its own, including flooding, intense storms and hurricanes.

Outside of flooding and droughts, utilities are also facing complex regulatory changes. Things like PFAS treatment are a costly burden that requires an abundance of new equipment, all while basic infrastructure is falling apart.

“We have to put all of our money into the latest contaminant,” Sorenson said.

San Francisco recently sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over what it called “an overreach in clean water enforcement.”

Sorenson stated that it has become difficult to build or expand infrastructure due to endless litigation and permitting delays.

Recently, a judge halted Denver Water’s Expansion by prohibiting the utility from filling an expanded reservoir until federal permits are reviewed.

President Trump was also in the news when he ordered a reservoir in California to “open the taps.”

Both actions highlight radical remedies but also bring water into a spotlight that showcases broken systems. Sorenson emphasized the need to move beyond performative politics and actually “turn the valve.”

“Be constant, turn the valve and do what needs to be done,” Sorenson concluded.