Marston Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marston Lake |
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The lake in 2016.
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Location | Denver, Colorado |
Coordinates | 39°37′48″N 105°04′04″W / 39.63000°N 105.06778°W |
Primary inflows | South Platte River |
Basin countries | United States |
Managing agency | Denver Water |
Water volume | 19,795 acre⋅ft (24,417,000 m3) |
Surface elevation | 5,525 ft (1,684 m) |
Marston Lake is a very important body of water located in Denver, Colorado. It is a special kind of lake called a reservoir. A reservoir is like a giant storage tank for water, built by people. Marston Lake was finished in 1902, and it helps provide clean drinking water to all the homes and businesses in Denver.
What is Marston Lake?
Marston Lake is a large reservoir that holds water for the city of Denver. It is owned and managed by an organization called Denver Water. Their job is to make sure that Denver residents always have enough clean water to drink, bathe, and use for other daily needs.
How Water Gets to Your Tap
The water from Marston Lake doesn't go straight to your house. First, it travels to the Marston treatment plant. Think of this plant as a big cleaning station. Here, the water goes through many steps to remove dirt, germs, and anything else that shouldn't be in your drinking water. After it's super clean, the water is then sent out through pipes to homes and businesses all over Denver.
Where Does the Water Come From?
Marston Lake gets its water from the South Platte River. But the journey of this water starts even further away! The South Platte River receives water from an area called the Colorado Western Slope. This water travels a long way through a special tunnel called the Roberts Tunnel. This tunnel helps move water from one side of the Rocky Mountains to the other, bringing it to the South Platte River and eventually to Marston Lake. This process is called a transmountain diversion. It's a clever way to bring water to places that need it, even if they are far from the original water source.