Pipeline

Delivering Water Through 80 Miles of Safe, Buried Pipelines

A vital component of the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) is the installation of approximately 80 miles of underground pipelines. These modern, resilient pipelines will support cooperative water exchanges and ensure reliable delivery to Northern Colorado communities that need it most.

Though often unnoticed, pipelines are a safe and widely used method of transporting essential resources. Beneath public and private lands across Northern Colorado, a vast network of buried infrastructure quietly moves water, electricity and energy every day.

Northern Water currently oversees 175 miles of pipelines that safely convey water from the West Slope to reservoirs, farms and cities. The new NISP pipelines—up to 84 inches in diameter—will be engineered to meet modern safety standards and buried with approximately 5 feet of earth cover, ensuring both protection and minimal surface disruption.

These pipelines will help secure a sustainable water future for Northern Colorado, supporting growth while preserving the region’s natural resources.

Man in a trench welding on a water pipeline.

Partnering with Landowners

As part of NISP, approximately 80 miles of pipelines will be constructed—requiring the careful acquisition and management of easements across public and private lands.

Northern Water has a long history of working respectfully and successfully with hundreds of property owners throughout Northern Colorado. These partnerships have helped build the infrastructure that today delivers water to homes, farms and businesses across the region.

Easement acquisition is one of the first steps in the NISP construction process. Northern Water ensures that every property owner receives just compensation and that the process complies fully with all applicable laws and regulations. Our goal is to work collaboratively with landowners to build a resilient water future for generations to come.

Two men pointing at items on a map.

What to Expect

  1. Field Investigations and Ownership Verification

    • Prior to design and construction of the pipeline we investigate the property and verify ownership.
    • We’ll review public records to determine who the legal property owners are and whether there are any mortgages or liens.
    • Northern Water representatives will coordinate with you before accessing your property for land surveying and other investigatory work. This request to access will be done with a request for Right of Entry to perform field work.  

  2. Notifying Property Owners

    • Once we make a final identification of the property upon which we need to acquire an easement we will mail every property owner a notice.
    • A legal description of the proposed easement will accompany the notice.

  3. Appraisal

    • We compensate property owners fairly for easements, and our appraiser will contact you to see if you’d like an opportunity to accompany our appraiser as they inspect the property.
    • Our appraiser's written report can be provided to you under certain conditions. 
    • Under certain circumstances, Northern Water pay the reasonable cost of a separate appraisal obtained by the property owner (Colorado Revised Statutes § 38-1-121).

  4. Acquisition

    • We’ll provide you with a written offer of fair market value to begin the negotiation for each easement acquisition.
    • Your individual offer to acquire the easement will include a description of the project and how it will affect the property.
    • If the offer is accepted, a closing will occur at a time and place that work for both you and Northern Water.
 
Farmland field alongside a dirt road with the Colorado Front Range mountains in the background.

Pipeline Easement Uses After Construction

Once construction of the NISP pipeline is complete, landowners will be able to continue using the easement area—with some limitations to protect the integrity and safety of the pipeline.

Certain activities are not permitted within the easement, including:

  • Building permanent structures
  • Planting new trees or deep-rooted shrubs that could interfere with the pipeline
  • Constructing paved roadways that may compromise pipeline infrastructure
  • Installing permanent fencing that obstructs pipeline access or maintenance

In agricultural and residential areas, land within the easement can generally continue to be used for its original purpose, provided these uses do not conflict with pipeline safety or maintenance requirements.

After construction, Northern Water will restore the easement area as closely as possible to its original condition. This includes reestablishing landscaping, fencing and access roads—so long as they do not interfere with the pipeline’s operation.