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Xeriscape garden
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Conservation has been an integral part of what we do for more than
60 years. We began using meters to conserve water in the 1940s,
long before it was standard practice. We pioneered the use of treated
wastewater for irrigation in the 1960s. We opened our award-winning
Xeriscape™ Demonstration Garden in the 1990s. And our 1996
Water Resource Plan identifies conservation as one of four components
for providing safe, reliable water.
We’re proud of our conservation
efforts and what they’ve accomplished. Our per capita
residential water use is the lowest along Colorado’s Front
Range. Our community used 5 billion gallons less water in 2007 than
in 2001, despite a 10 percent increase in population.
A summary of some of the conservation measures we’ve implemented
and plan to implement:
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Conservation
Education. We distribute educational materials through
customer newsletters, community events and our web
site. Last year, we offered 63 classes and presentations
on Xeriscape™ and other water conservation topics to over
2,300 participants. We partner with educators to provide curriculum-based
materials in schools. |
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Special Events.
In 2007, we hosted an Earth Day celebration attended by approximately
400 people. We host an annual symposium on water-wise landscaping. |
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Pricing. Residential
customers pay a 3-tiered price for the water they use. The first
tier is the least expensive and covers essential indoor use.
The second tier is higher in price and covers typical outdoor
use. The third tier is the highest price for water used over
and above typical indoor and outdoor water usage. Commercial
customers are on a seasonal pricing structure where they pay
a lower price for winter use and a higher price for summer use
when the demand is greater. |
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Residential Rebates.
We provide Energy Star clothes washer rebates, irrigation equipment
rebates and high-efficiency toilet rebates. |
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Commercial Landscape
Code. The city requires water-efficient landscaping for
newly developed commercial, industrial and multi-family properties. |
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Voluntary Restrictions.
We have voluntary water restrictions, to encourage wise water
use by asking our customers to voluntarily cut back on water
use. The voluntary restrictions replaced more stringent mandatory
drought-related restrictions in place from 2002-2005. |
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Partnerships.
We collaborate with a number of groups such as the Colorado
WaterWise Council, Colorado Water Conservation Board and others
to spread the water conservation message. |
On December 31, 2007, we submitted an updated water
conservation plan to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)
for review and approval. It was approved on January 30, 2008, and
we’ll use it as a blueprint for conserving even more water.
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