Laserfiche WebLink
<br />COLORADO SPRINGS UTILITIES' 2008-2012 WATER CONSERVATION PLAN <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />Colorado Springs Utilities ("Springs Utilities") is a community-owned utility that provides <br />electricity, natural gas, water and wastewater services to the citizens of Colorado Springs and <br />surrounding communities. The water service area covers 184 square miles and includes <br />Colorado Springs, Green Mountain Falls and Chip ita Parl(. <br /> <br />The community has a strong military presence and Springs Utilities supplies water to Fort <br />Carson Army Base, Peterson Air Force Base, the North American Air Defense Command and <br />the United States Air Force Academy. Springs Utilities also provides water to Cascade <br />Metropolitan District and supplemental water to Security Water District. <br /> <br />In 2006, Springs Utilities delivered 26 billion gallons of water to approximately 417,000 people <br />through 129,000 meters. Ninety percent of the meters are single-family residential. Single- <br />family residential use comprises almost half (44%) of annual use. The other half (56%) is <br />comprised of commercial, military, multi-family, wholesale and other use. <br /> <br />From 1990 through 2006, system-wide water use averaged 186 gallons per capita per day. <br />During the same period, single-family residential water use averaged 112 gallons per capita per <br />day. From 2002 through 2005, water use declined due to mandatory water restrictions. Water <br />use has remained relatively low since water restrictions were lifted in late 2005. <br /> <br />Given the demand forecast, Springs Utilities has adequate water supplies to meet projected needs <br />through 2046. However, raw water delivery systems will be at capacity as early as 2012. As <br />such, Springs Utilities is worl(ing with regional partners to develop an additional 76,000 acre-feet <br />of raw water delivery capacity to the community. <br /> <br />A proposed delivery system, commonly referred to as the Southern Delivery System (SDS), is <br />currently undergoing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Impact <br />Statement (EIS) process. The EIS is evaluating seven alternatives for the SDS project. Water <br />conservation is incorporated into each of the seven SDS alternatives. <br /> <br />Springs Utilities manages programs that address both supply-side and demand-side water <br />conservation measures. Supply-side measures optimize water resources through water reuse <br />systems and distribution system efficiency. Demand-side measures promote water conservation <br />and efficient water use through education, rates, rebates, audits and regulations. <br /> <br />The water conservation goals established for the 2008-2012 Water Conservation Plan include <br />maintaining low residential use per capita, already among the lowest in Colorado and the <br />Southwest. For the commercial marl(et, the primary goal is to gain a better understanding of how <br />commercial customers use water in order to reduce commercial use per customer. <br /> <br />7 <br />