Douglas County Water Conservation Efforts

Douglas County has developed from a vastly rural population of 8,400 people in 1970 to a population of nearly 290,000 in 2011. As population has grown, so too has the need for a long-term, adequate and reliable water supply. A critical and necessary component to the County’s existing and future water scenario is the ability to conserve current water resources.

Douglas County water users are statewide leaders in the conservation of water.  Approximately 98% of water users that are connected to a central water system have approved water conservation plans. 

A total of 32 water providers currently serve Douglas County residents and businesses.  Of the 32 providers, 20 serve less than 2,000 acre-feet of water per year and 15 of them have approved conservation plans.  Of the 32, 12 serve more than 2,000 acre-feet per year and all 12 have State-approved plans.

The water provider conservation plans not only highlight existing water conservation efforts but include an implementation plan to enhance water savings over the coming years.  

The Douglas County Regional Water Conservation Plan combines the individual conservation plans of the 15 smaller providers into a single document. The Regional Plan was submitted to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for approval in May 2011 and is expected to be approved by September of this year.

Here's a list of water providers that have an approved Water Conservation Plan in place:

Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority	Cottonwood Water and Sanitation District	Sedalia Water and Sanitation District
Aurora Water	Denver Water	Sierra Vista Douglas Mutual Water Co.
Beverly Hills Mutual Water Company	The Pinery (Denver Southeast Suburban Water and Sanitation District)	Stonegate Village Metro District
Castle Pines Metropolitan District	Inverness Water and Sanitation District	Thunderbird Water and Sanitation District
Castle Pines North Metro District	Louviers Water and Sanitation District	Titan Road Industrial Park Water Association
Castleton Center Water and Sanitation District	Meridian Metropolitan District	Town of Castle Rock
Centennial Water and Sanitation District	Parker Water and Sanitation District	Town of Larkspur
Chatfield South Water District	Roxborough Water and Sanitation District

Lead by Example program

Douglas County Internal Water Audit

Water has continually been identified as the top priority for Douglas County residents through numerous community outreach surveys and public events. The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners has put together an innovative program that encourages Douglas County Government to set the example in conserving one of our most precious natural resources.

The County’s Lead by Example program kicked off in May 2009 with the intent of analyzing its own water use before approaching the county’s providers about theirs. The first step of the program involved the County hiring water auditors to conduct indoor and outdoor water audits. The auditors analyzed water use at each of the County's 32 indoor facilities and 19 outdoor irrigated parks. The audits identified a number of areas where water-waste was occurring and provided suggestions on facility management remedies and water fixture device retrofits to further enhance water savings.

Both the indoor and outdoor water audits were completed in September 2009 and are available for review below:

• Final Report Indoor 09-21-09 [667KB]
• Final Report Outdoor 09-22-09 [2MB]

Between September 2009 and the present, County staff has been implementing the recommendations provided in the water audits.  In 2011, staff reported to the Board of County Commissioners on the status of implementation.  Below are the individual audit recommendations and the actions taken by both Parks and Facilities between the Audit Report and Spring 2011.

• 2011 Water Audit Findings Report - Indoor [55KB] NEW!
• 2011 Water Audit Findings Report - Outdoor [30KB] NEW!

In late 2014, a 5-year water use report will highlight water saved by the implementation of both management and retrofits called for within the water audits. 

Water Conservation Tips

Ninety-seven percent of the water on the planet is in our oceans, a non-potable source due to its high salt content.  A startling fact is only 2% of the water on our earth is suitable for drinking.  Most of that freshwater is locked up in the Antarctic and Artic polar ice sheets.  This means that less than 1% is available for human consumption world-wide.

Identifying and tracking your monthly water use can have a huge impact on your overall water use. It is not commonly understood that up to 80% of your annual water consumption comes from the outdoor irrigation. Simple adjustments to your existing landscape can save a dramatic reduction in overall water use.

Water conservation is a good sustainable practice whether we are experiencing drought or not.  Please help Douglas County to conserve water by following some of these easy and relatively inexpensive water conservation tips.   

Outdoor Water Saving Tips:

• Water your lawn only when it needs it.  Typically, in Colorado during the summer, most lawns only require water two to three times a week.
• Check your outdoor faucets for leaks and repair them immediately.
• Check your sprinkler system for leaks and broken sprinkler heads and have them repaired immediately. Often outdoor leaks are hidden or difficult to find, and they quickly increase your water bill and add no benefit to your lawn and garden.
• Sweep your driveway and sidewalks instead of using your hose.
• Install rain gages on your irrigation system.
• Check sprinkler heads to ensure equal distribution and rate of flow.  Replace as necessary.
• Ensure your irrigation programming is set to rotate through zones a few times with each zone only operating a few minutes per rotation.
• Don’t water your sidewalk or the street, and avoid watering your lawn when it’s windy.
• Water your lawn early in the morning or late at night to avoid high evaporation and encourage root zone infiltration.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Toilets are by far the main source of water use in the home, accounting for nearly 30 percent of residential indoor water consumption. Toilets also happen to be a major source of wasted water due to leaks and/or inefficiency. Click on the link below entitled "Water Sense", for more information about toilets and their water consumption:

Water Sense [30KB]

 

Douglas County Water Resources Authority

Douglas County Water Resource Authority's (DCWRA) nineteen members represent the regional collection of municipalities, water providers, and County government that is dedicated to water resource conservation, education, public policy initiatives, and the creation of a forum for the discussion of issues related to water.

The DCWRA was created in 1992 to address the County's long-term water needs and bring together the area’s water providers.  For more than a decade, DCWRA has promoted water conservation and water use efficiency within Douglas County. For more information about water conservation methods and DCWRA please visit their website at http://www.dcwater.org/.