Aurora 2007 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Applicant: City of Aurora
• Project Name: City of Aurora Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan Aurora Water Aurora, Colorado
• Date: 8/8/2007
• County: Arapahoe
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

Hotel and Restaurant Water Conservation Cards- Since 2002, Aurora Water has worked
with hotels and restaurants within Aurora to promote water conservation. Aurora Water has
provided hotel/motel linen washing request cards and restaurant "water served upon request"
cards free of charge.

Residential Irrigation Audit program-In 2006, through a partnership with the Center for
Resource Conservation, Aurora Water provided irrigation system audits for 334 residences
and seven large HOA properties. The audits provide information to owners regarding the
efficiency of their irrigation system. Properties receiving an audit qualify for an Irrigation
System Rebate towards efficient equipment. For 2007, Aurora Water has doubled the funding
for this successful program.

Indoor Water Audit program- Since 2003, Aurora Water has offered indoor water audits
for our water customers. These have been carried out systematically by targeting the oldest
housing stock and progressing forward in terms of the years the houses were constructed.
This program has been well received by the participants.

Xeriscape education and demonstration gardens
Aurora Water has two dedicated Xeriscape demonstration gardens that make up the Aurora
Xeriscape Gardens. The largest is located at the main municipal building and includes 6 acres
of water-wise landscaping including a re-creation of the Blacl< Forest Ponderosa Pine
ecosystem. The other garden is located at Aurora's Griswold Water Treatment plant. This
more isolated garden is ideal for research plots and specialty classes.

Classes- More than 40 indoor and outdoor presentations are provided per year with
specific attention to converting high water landscapes to low water Xeriscape landscapes.
This includes plant selection, soils, irrigation and maintenance. Classes include Xeriscape
Planning and Design," "Xeriscape on a Budget," "Xeriscape: Start to Finish Intensive,"
"Water Harvesting," "Conversion to Drip" and many more. Classes are taught by
Xeriscape staff who maintain the demonstration gardens.

Volunteer Programs- Each year the volunteer program worl<s with youth groups
throughout the metro area during the summer season. Cherry Creek School District's
Intensive Treatment Program (for emotionally disabled teens) spends several days during
the summer working in the garden. Aurora Water also has a working relationship with the
City of Aurora Court Referral system hosting teens that need to fulfill community service
hours. Presently, the garden volunteer program will begin working with the 18th judicial
district's Restorative Community Service Program. The Xeriscape demonstration garden
will be a youth service project one Saturday a month during the summer for 10 youth.

Youth education- Since 2006, the Xeriscape program promotes water conservation in
Aurora's local schools. The program is a combination of classroom presentations
matched with hands-on experiments, and many of the schools will conclude the
experience with a visit to the Xeriscape demonstration garden this spring. This year the

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