Sept. 7, 2022

Project Participants Emphasize Water Conservation

As Colorado’s population continues to increase along the Front Range and we are faced with multi-year droughts and rising temperatures, many conversations surround water supply and how to make it go further. The solution is multi-faceted and includes new infrastructure like Chimney Hollow Reservoir; however, everyone agrees that comprehensive solutions start with water conservation. 

Water efficiency is an integral part of Northern Water’s management strategy with long-range planning that encourages people to be good stewards of water resources. In 2012, during the permitting process for Chimney Hollow Reservoir, Grand County and the Windy Gap Firming Project participants signed an agreement that all municipal and industrial participants emphasize the most responsible use of water. Methods include recycling and reusing water, developing urban landscapes and designing stormwater sanitation systems. Northern Water and the project participants (Subdistrict) agreed to the following statement: 

Conservation Gardens at Northern Water sign with colorful flowers around it.

"Prior to delivery of water through the 2012 WGFP, Subdistrict shall provide the County with documentation of conservation plans for all municipal project participants and lessees and shall continue to provide documentation that participants are complying with the Water Conservation Act with regard to updating the conservation plans as required by state law." 

Since 2012, all participants have been cutting gallons per capita per day (GPCD) by at least 0.5 percent annually and, combined, have been averaging cuts of about 2 percent annually. Although water will not be delivered from Chimney Hollow Reservoir for a few more years, project participants have been actively working on and prioritizing their conservation efforts with plans to cut even more.  

Programs that some participants have already implemented include:  

  • Rebates 
  • Garden In A Box 
  • Irrigation audits 
  • Xeriscape incentives 
  • Water loss auditing 
  • Turf replacement grants 
  • Water reuse systems 
  • K-12 education programs  

Proposed water efficiency activities under consideration for many participants include: 

  • Providing informational water budgets on monthly bills 
  • Enforcing time-of-day watering rules 
  • Hosting technical workshops for residential landscaping 
  • Expanding excess water use surcharges  

Project participants have strong efficiency targets, with many of them hoping to cut GPCD by 10 percent over the next 10 years, which is an attainable goal for most because of previous trajectories and implementation of identified programs. As with most communities along the Front Range, participants have seen an increase in population but a decrease in overall water use. These decreases continue even during the summer months when outdoor irrigation demands increase.   

With an allotment of more than 26,000 acre-feet of water storage in Chimney Hollow Reservoir, the City and County of Broomfield is the largest participant in the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project.  Broomfield has a long-term water conservation goal to reduce total system demand by 10 percent by 2040, which is approximately 1,900 acre-feet per year.  

“The keystone of Broomfield's water efficiency efforts since 2004 is its water reuse system, which utilizes treated wastewater to irrigate approximately 940 acres of parks and an additional 1,500 acres of non-city owned green spaces,” said Brennan Middleton, Broomfield Water Resources Manager. “Broomfield is investing in infrastructure projects to expand the overall capacity of its reuse system, which reduces the amount of potable water that would otherwise be needed to meet future irrigation demands.” 

Broomfield has implemented many additional programs to maximize efficient use of water resources, including adopting an ordinance legalizing the use of greywater for both outdoor irrigation and indoor toilet and urinal flushing – a municipal regulation already allowed in Colorado. Greywater is the water from sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines. As highlighted in the Broomfield Water Efficiency Plan it states: “Similar to the reuse system citywide, using greywater reduces the volume of potable supply needed to meet the customer water demands.” 

The City of Greeley is another Chimney Hollow participant with an allotment of over 9,000 acre-feet of storage. It has been focusing on water conservation efforts since 1907 when it first implemented mandatory water restrictions. While the original water restrictions have morphed into a more robust water conservation program, Greeley has a long-standing history of using water wisely and has recently adopted a triple-bottom-line approach to water conservation.  

“Water efficiency is centered around a sustainable water future that revolves around Greeley’s community, prosperity and water,” said Dena Egenhoff, Greeley Water Conservation Manager. “For the City, triple-bottom-line means creating an optimal mix of water efficiency, cost effectiveness and community first in daily water conservation operations.” 

With just under 5,000 acre-feet of storage allotment in the Chimney Hollow Reservoir Project, Little Thompson Water District (LTWD) serves homes, farms, commercial enterprises and municipalities. The main water conservation goal for LTWD is education and outreach to help decrease use.  

In December 2021, the LTWD Board of Directors approved an updated Water Shortage Contingency Plan that, among other guidelines, provides “action levels” with mandatory watering days/hours and fines for noncompliance.  

LTWD Water Resources Administrator Amanda Hoff said, “Currently, LTWD is in action level low of our Water Shortage Contingency Plan, which is mainly mandatory watering days and hours along with fines, to help customers understand how important it is to use water efficiently. Over the next few years, we hope to expand our water conservation program to more customers by outreach and reduce our increasing projected demand.” 

Northern Water is committed to providing education and resources that support the range of water users from single-family residential to agriculture including landscape demonstrations, industry training, irrigation audits, project grants, consultations and Conservation Gardens at our Berthoud headquarters.  

With water storage and delivery from Chimney Hollow Reservoir a few years away, Northern Water and the Chimney Hollow Reservoir project participants remain committed to water efficiency and doing their part to make the water go further for generations to come.