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<br />CHAPTER 6 - WATER CONSERVATION GOALS <br /> <br />Water Conservation Goals <br /> <br />Establishing water conservation goals is an iterative process that begins with <br />quantifying the future demand for water based on current water-use habits and <br />identifying areas water use can feasibly and effectively be reduced. Reduction of <br />future water demand through water conservation will potentially delay planned <br />water supply acquisition and the need for infrastructure improvements. Although <br />logical in concept, ELCO's position is unique in that it shares existing facilities <br />with other entities. In addition, many of ELCO's planned facilities will be <br />cooperative efforts with other entities. This limits the flexibility for ELCO to delay <br />facility upgrades through water conservation because the infrastructure projects <br />are driven by opportunity and the joint needs of the participants. <br /> <br />ELCO recognizes the value of water conservation, not only from a supply <br />standpoint, but also from an environmental perspective. Because of the limited <br />supply in the northern Colorado Front Range and the cost and time to change the <br />use of native water rights, the cost of attaining new water supplies is extremely <br />high. After the drought of 2001-2002, ELCO took an aggressive approach to <br />water conservation through the existing measures and programs summarized in <br />Chapter 3. The gallons per capita consumption went down from 192 gpcd in <br />1999 to 180 gpcd in 2006, an overall reduction of 7010. This reduction occurred <br />after a three-year stabilization period following drought restrictions in 2002 and <br />2003. <br /> <br />The goals established for this Water Conservation Plan are based on discussions <br />with staff and quantification of ELCO's historic and future water demands. The <br />highest water use customer categories for the District are Single Family, Non- <br />Residential (which includes irrigation-only taps) and Mobile Home Parks. Most of <br />the water conservation efforts completed to date have been in the Single Family <br />residential category. These measures will continue to be implemented while new <br />goals will be established for the other categories. <br /> <br />Another area of high water use is unaccounted-for water losses. In 2006, this <br />amounted to 162 million gallons. This level of water use warranted an additional <br />area of focus for water savings. A water savings goal was not established for the <br />Multi-Family category at this time because ELCO's limited resources for water <br />conservation are better spent in the other areas. <br /> <br />The following table shows the 2006 water use for each customer category, the <br />projected 2016 water use, the target reduction goals over the ten-year planning <br />horizon of this plan and the associated amount of water savings. <br /> <br />Clear Water Solutions, Inc. <br />East Larimer County Water District <br /> <br />2007 Water Conservation Plan <br /> <br />47 <br />