[Vision2020] Water Conservation: Denver Style

[Jerry Weitz]

Great ideas Steve, at the dental office we replaced our water primed vacuum 
pumps with a waterless and our total water bill was reduced to $76 last 
month. The water bill was (before the rate hike)about $200/month.  jerry



At 07:24 PM 6/5/06, Steven Basoa wrote:
>I sent a link to this article earlier, but my post seems to have 
>disappeared.  It is from Sunday's Denver Post (6/4/06).  There is also a 
>chart showing some details of how they plan to save water and the 
>estimated savings (in gallons).  I was unable to copy and paste it so here 
>is the link:
><http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3897068#>http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3897068#
>
>
>Slowing the flow
>Denver Water wants to make new and resale homes pass test
>By Kim McGuire
>Denver Post Staff Writer
>
>
>Denver Water has drafted a $400 million conservation plan that aims to cut 
>annual water use 22 percent - or 16.7 billion gallons - during the next 10 
>years.
>
>The plan relies on ramping up existing programs - such as homeowner 
>rebates on low-flow toilets and efficient clothes washers - and launching 
>some new initiatives.
>
>Among the new measures being proposed are:
>
>Establishing a water-efficiency rating system for new construction. If 
>builders don't meet certain standards, the utility might refuse to hook up 
>a new home to the water system.
>
>Initiating water audits of existing homes before they are sold and 
>requiring the replacement of leaky faucets, shower heads and toilets. The 
>utility also might require home owners to replace inefficient fixtures.
>
>Requiring the installation of low-flow urinals in new commercial buildings.
>
>The three initiatives make up about a third of the reduction target. Other 
>measures - such as adding irrigation water meters and removing park lawns 
>- are aimed at Denver Water's municipal and commercial customers.
>
>"Our system is able to meet our current needs, but in the future, it's 
>going to take more supply, more conservation - or both - to be able to 
>provide for a rapidly urbanizing Front Range," said Denver Water 
>Commissioner Tom Gougeon.
>
>The plan - which may need Denver-area municipalities to pass ordinances - 
>will be unveiled to the public this summer and then presented to the 
>utility's board in August.
>
>Real estate agents and homebuilders say they need more information before 
>they can judge the plan, which is still under development.
>
>"We're very encouraged by the fact that Denver Water brought us into the 
>dialogue so early," said Kim Calomino, a vice president of the 
>Homebuilders Association of Metropolitan Denver.
>
>"And we're pleased that they're looking at all water users - homeowners, 
>businesses and industry - and not singling anyone out," Calomino said.
>
>As for the measure to inspect houses for leaky and inefficient fixtures 
>before sales, Ed Jalowsky, a broker with Classic Advantage Realty in 
>Denver, said it will depend on who does the inspection.
>
>"The idea is only as good as the inspection itself," he said, "and 
>unfortunately in Colorado, if you've got a ladder and a flashlight, you 
>can call yourself an inspector."
>
>Denver Water has discussed using home inspectors or Denver Water staff to 
>do the audits, said Liz Gardener, the utility's conservation program manager.
>
>Since drought gripped the region in 2002, Denver Water customers have cut 
>their annual consumption by about 20 percent, to 64 billion gallons last year.
>
>"We recognize that some of our customers have already cut down their use, 
>and that's why we're trying to build up on that momentum," Gougeon said. 
>"We're trying to establish a conservation ethic that isn't rule- driven or 
>dictated by drought."
>
>The utility's 1.1 million customers could end up paying for half of the 
>$400 million plan.
>
>Denver Water officials say those investments would be paid back to home 
>owners and business in water savings within six years.
>
>Some of the new measures may be controversial, utility officials say, 
>including the plan to establish a rating system for new homes.
>
>Under the proposal, builders would earn points by installing 
>water-efficient fixtures and reducing irrigated landscapes.
>
>Points would be deducted for using water-sucking features such as Kentucky 
>bluegrass or the popular "shower towers" that have six or more shower heads.
>
>If a developer didn't get a passing grade, Denver Water might refuse to 
>connect the home to its system, Gardener said.
>
>"We're not trying change the look of Denver so that it becomes like one of 
>the towns in the Southwest," Gardener said. "We want to keep the look of 
>Denver, except the water running down the gutters. Except for the 
>underground leaks. Except for the leaky faucets."
>
>The plan came out of Denver Water's long-term planning process that set a 
>conservation goal to cut 16 billion gallons of water annually by 2050.
>
>The utility's board decided last year it wanted to achieve that goal by 2016.
>
>Denver Water may need legal backing from the municipalities it serves to 
>require home sellers to replace inefficient fixtures, board members say.
>
>The utility may ask metro- area governments to consider adopting 
>ordinances tailored to the conservation plan, Gardener said.
>
>The utility is arranging to make a formal presentation to Denver Mayor 
>John Hickenlooper and the City Council, according to Andrew Wallach, an 
>assistant to the mayor.
>
>While Hickenlooper has said publicly that he supports increasing the 
>city's water conservation, local leaders need to understand the plan's 
>details before taking action, Wallach said.
>
>"It seems at some point the city may be required to take some kind of 
>action, and we want to be supportive, but first we need to hear from the 
>stakeholders," Wallach said.
>
>Staff writer Kim McGuire can be reached at 303-820-1240 or 
><mailto:kmcguire at denverpost.com>kmcguire at denverpost.com.
>
>
>
>
>
>
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