Durango WCPlan 1998

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Applicant: City of Durango
• Project Name: City of Durango Water Conservation Plan
• Title: City of Durango Water Conservation Plan- 1998
• Date: 1/1/1998
• County: La Plata
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

Although a full-scale water conservation program is not currently in place in Durango, some conservation
measures have been implemented by the City and are summarized below.

. The City has encouraged efficient water use primarily by metering all treated water customers.
Metering makes customers aware of how much water they are using. Installation of meters was completed
on all residential water service connections in 1980. Since installing meters, water consumption has
decreased from approximately 260 gpcd to 200 gpcd. The City now reads all meters monthly and sends
bills to customers 2 -3 weeks later.
. Leaks are repaired as quickly as possible once the responsibility for repairs is established. Any
equipment found to be substandard is replaced. All replacements of water service lines are done with type
"K" copper tubing of the same size, or a minimum or 3/4". Over the years, the City has invested
significant amounts of capital in its waterline upgrade program to replace leaking and deteriorated water
main lines.
. A leak detection program has been implemented on main water lines. By using sensitive listening
equipment, leaks in main lines are detected and repaired when streets are repaved.
. In 1990, the City adopted a water shortage management plan for use during drought conditions. The
plan consists of four stages that are based on the severity of the drought. A summary of the management
plan including the four drought stages and required actions for each stage is shown below. Since
implementing the plan, the City has reached Stage I of the plan in July 1994 and Stage 2 in the spring of
1997.

Durango Water Shortage Management Plan
Stage Condition
1. Reservoir above 90% capacity and supply
within 90% of demand. Long range
predictions indicate potential Stage 2
conditions within two months.

2. Reservoir 90% capacity and supply
greater than 70% of demand.

3. Reservoir 50-70% of capacity or supply is
less than 70% of demand.

4. Reservoir below 50% capacity and supply
is less than 40% of demand.

Reauired Actions
1. Water conservation public awareness program.
2. Offer water saving devices (pressure valves, leak
detection, landscaping fixtures, and other interior
devices).
3. Water to golf course and FLC reduced to 900,000
gallons/day.
4. Notice to SDWD & A WC (Districts not to sell water
to contractors unless written approval from City).
5. No construction water to contractors, except through
residential meters.
6. Immediately turn off leaking service lines until
repairs are made.

1. Lawn watering restriction - every other day. No
watering 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and only 6 hours
of watering.
2. Water to golf course and college limited to
300,000 gallons/day.
3. No hydrant flushing.
4. No street sweeping with water.
5. Park watering plan becomes effective..
6. No washing of driveways/parking lots with City
water.

1. All of the above.
2. No car washing.
3. Institutional plan goes into effect.
4. Lawn watering three hours per day onlv.

1. No lawn watering.

· The park watering plan consists of the following:
Reservoir Level Action to be Taken
90% of Capacity Water every other day and use approximately 2,200,000 gallons
of treated water per month on specific parks.

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