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<br />COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES' 2008-2012 WATER CONSERVATION PLAN <br /> <br />State Requirements <br /> <br />Colorado Revised Statute section 37-120-26 requires that Springs Utilities consider nine specific <br />measures and programs in the 2008-2012 Water Conservation Plan. What follows is the list of <br />plan elements and a brief description of Springs Utilities' compliance with this requirement. <br /> <br />1. Water-efficient fixtures and appliances'l including toilets'l urinals'l showerheads and faucets <br /> <br />Springs Utilities offers rebates to residential customers for high-efficiency toilets and high- <br />efficiency clothes washers. The ENERGY STAR clothes washer rebates have been very <br />successful with over 10,045 rebates issued from 2002 through 2006. In the context of the 2008- <br />2012 Water Conservation Plan, Springs Utilities will evaluate opportunities to marl(et rebates for <br />high-efficiency toilets and high-efficiency urinals to commercial customers. <br /> <br />From 2002 through 2004, Springs Utilities offered rebates for ultra-low-flush toilets. This <br />program was discontinued because the design of the program did not prevent participation by <br />"free riders" - residents who were going to replace their toilets anyway because of natural <br />causes. In 2003, Springs Utilities also offered low-flow urinal rebates to commercial customers. <br />This program was discontinued due to low participation rates. <br /> <br />Springs Utilities began distributing free low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators in 2003. Over <br />the years, the distribution program included leal( detection dye tabs, metal hose adaptors, lawn <br />sprinl(ler timers and other water-saving components. Due to saturation levels, Springs Utilities <br />plans to discontinue this program in 2008. Instead, Springs Utilities will evaluate a pre-rinse <br />spray nozzle program for restaurants, cafeterias and other food service providers. <br /> <br />2. Low-water-use landscapes'l drought-resistant vegetation'l removal of phreatophytes and <br />efficient irrigation <br /> <br />Springs Utilities has encouraged low-water-use landscapes since the 1970s, when the landscape <br />surrounding the Conservation and Environmental Center was converted to a showplace of plants <br />that grow well in this semiarid region. The Xeriscape Demonstration Garden was officially <br />dedicated in 1981. Since that time, tens of thousands of visitors have been to the garden to learn <br />about low-water-use landscapes. In recent years, all phreatophytes, defined as deep-rooted <br />plants that obtain water from a permanent ground supply, have been removed from the garden. <br /> <br />Springs Utilities will evaluate landscape establishment permits in which proper soil preparation <br />is required for new landscape installations. Regarding efficient irrigation, Springs Utilities offers <br />rebates to residential customers for installing efficient irrigation equipment, including irrigation <br />controllers, rain sensors, spray heads with checl( valves and rotating multi-stream nozzles. <br />Springs Utilities will also evaluate outdoor efficiency incentives and smart (ET) controller <br />rebates for commercial customers, particularly large irrigators. <br /> <br />3. Water-efficient commercial and industrial water-using processes <br /> <br />Unlil(e the residential marl(et, water use in the commercial and industrial marl(et differs <br />dramatically between segments and customers. Springs Utilities categorizes the commercial and <br />industrial marl(et into twelve segments - education, grocery, health care, manufacturing, <br /> <br />28 <br />