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<br />Precipitation Management (hereinafter referenced as rainwater conservation) is <br />the capture and temporary storage of precipitation for landscape irrigation and <br />other beneficial uses. It represents a growing understanding of a "water ethic" <br />and progress towards more sustainable development. Over one-thousand years <br />ago, ancient Americans living in the arid conditions of what is now Mesa Verde <br />National Park collected and stored rainwater. Appreciating that we still live in an <br />arid climate, contemporary Americans recognize that conserving rainwater for <br />landscape irrigation offers a number of benefits: <br /> <br />. Reduce consumption of potable water for non-potable uses - every gallon <br />of potable water conserved represents savings. Not merely of the water <br />itself, but of the infrastructure required to transport, treat, store, and <br />distribute that water. It also saves the energy invested in every gallon of <br />water to transport and treat it, as well as the chemicals used in the <br />treatment and disinfection processes. <br />. Reduce peak summer landscape watering demands - overall water usage <br />peaks during the summertime; reducing this load helps utilities delay <br />expansion of treatment and distribution facilities. Water usage is <br />inextricably intertwined with energy usage; lowering water demand in the <br />summertime means lowering peak electrical energy demands as well. <br />. Rainwater conservation may reduce untreated flow to storm drains and <br />improve water quality - a properly designed and engineered rainwater <br />collection system may reduce the flow of untreated storm water thereby <br />reducing non-point pollution. <br />. Protect streamflow - a properly designed rainwater conservation system <br />may enhance streamflow by mitigating the high surge flow caused by <br />extreme storm events. The introduction of augmentation water may <br />produce more predictable stream flows. <br />· Rainwater is soft (low to nonexistent concentrations of dissolved salts) and <br />thus preferable for most landscape irrigation applications. <br />· Rainwater conservation represents wise use of a scarce resource and is <br />an integral component of the "total water management" approach - water <br />professionals increasingly recognize that current water and development <br />issues in Colorado require a more regional approach to assure that our <br />limited water resources are administered in the most effective and efficient <br />manner possible. This requires implementing a "total water management" <br />approach - one that considers innovative water resources such as <br />rainwater collection, conjunctive use, groundwater recharge, regional <br />planning, wastewater issues, watershed management, demand-side <br />management via conservation and recycling, actively managing <br />stormwater systems, and most importantly, good stewardship of a vital <br />natural resource. <br /> <br />As water and energy resources become increasingly scarce, the practice of <br />rainwater collection is becoming more popular. It is estimated that over one-half <br /> <br />2 <br />