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<br />COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES' 2008-2012 WATER CONSERVATION PLAN <br /> <br />Springs Utilities will develop specifications for smart (ET) controller rebates. Smart controllers <br />estimate or measure depletion of soil moisture in order to operate an irrigation system, <br />replenishing water as needed while minimizing excess water use. A smart controller will mal(e <br />irrigation schedule adjustments throughout the irrigation season without human intervention. <br /> <br />Springs Utilities plans to introduce a commercial car wash certification program. Commercial <br />car washes that have demonstrated efficient water use by meeting or exceeding industry <br />efficiency standards or by demonstrating a thirty percent reduction in water use per vehicle will <br />be certified. Details will be determined during the implementation phase. <br /> <br />All Outdoor <br /> <br />Similar to other utilities across the Front Range, Springs Utilities intends to introduce a water <br />waste ordinance. A water waste ordinance would contain certain provisions that apply to all <br />customers. Essentially, the ordinance would set limitations on water that pools or flows across <br />the ground into the street. The ordinance would also set limitations on time-of-day watering, <br />perhaps before 9:00am and after 6:00pm only. Because an ordinance of this type is ofa <br />regulatory nature, public involvement would be necessary to devise appropriate provisions. <br /> <br />Estimated Water Savings <br /> <br />The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) through the Office of Water Conservation <br />and Drought Planning requires that water providers estimate the amount of water that has been <br />saved and the amount of water that will be saved through conservation. Specifically, Colorado <br />Revised Statute section 37-120-26 requires water providers to comply with the following: <br /> <br />Either as a percentage or in acre-foot increments, an estimate of the amount of <br />water that has been saved through a previously implemented conservation plan <br />and an estimate of the amount of water that will be saved through conservation <br />when the plan is implemented. <br /> <br />Springs Utilities was rigorous in its analysis of estimated water savings. The model was <br />developed using industry accepted practices and standards. Many of the inputs and assumptions <br />were based on previous worl( conducted by Maddaus Water Management (Evaluation of Water <br />Conservation Program, Final Report, July 2003). <br /> <br />In addition, Springs Utilities retained Great Western Institute (GWI) to review the model for <br />appropriateness, effectiveness and reasonableness. GWI concluded that the model was "robust <br />and comprehensive" and "does an excellent job of organizing and combining the various data <br />into the bacl(bone of a comprehensive water conservation plan." The model is covered in more <br />detail in Appendix C, Program Alternatives Analysis. <br /> <br />Using 1999 as the baseline year, Springs Utilities estimates that the amount of water that has <br />been saved through previously implemented conservation programs equals approximately 4.6% <br />of the 2007 demand forecast. Springs Utilities further estimates that the amount of water that <br />will be saved when the 2008-2012 Water Conservation Plan is implemented equals <br />approximately 7.6% of the 2017 demand forecast. <br /> <br />17 <br />