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4.0 Current Water Conservation Efforts <br />The City's Water Conservation Master Plan in 1996 was used to initiate a number of <br />water conservation best management practices (BMPs) that were used to help the <br />City prolong the adequacy of its existing water resources, and as appropriate, delay <br />capital construction of new treatment plants, reservoirs and related facilities. Given <br />that the City does not have any imminent or pressing water supply or delivery <br />issues requiring immediate or aggressive conservation actions, the City chose the <br />primary emphasis of its BMPs to be education and effective communications rather <br />than regulation. The underlying belief was that if the citizens understand the <br />economics, methodologies, and positive effects of water conservation, they can make <br />informed decisions. <br />Since 1996, the City has expanded its water conservation measures and programs, <br />beyond those first BMPs identified and selected for implementation in the original <br />Plan (see Appendix A for a listing of the initial BMPs and their status) . Table 9 <br />presents a listing of each current water conservation measure and program that the <br />City currently conducts, and indicated how long the activity has been conducted. <br />This section reviews each of the categories of water conservation measures and <br />programs that the City has implemented, and discusses the water savings that may <br />be related to these efforts. <br />4.1 Public Education and Resources <br />The City's network of public water conservation resources continues to evolve, and <br />includes several different types of communication vehicles to share information. <br />Written communications include a biannual column advertisement in the local <br />paper, the Daily Times Call, and information in the City Line once per year, a <br />pamphlet included with monthly utility bills. Information is always available from <br />the Public Works and Water Utilities Department offices. For customers with a more <br />electronic focus, the City's website is updated with the latest water conservation <br />activities and program information, as well as access to E -News, an email list that <br />customers can subscribe to and receive weekly updates on City news and resources. <br />From these various sources, the City's customers can learn about other City <br />measures and programs, including rebates, outdoor water audits, Xeriscape gardens <br />and seminars. <br />For a more visual demonstration of water conservation options there are two <br />Xeriscape gardens, at the City's Recreation Center (Quail Campus) and Sunset Pool. <br />The Quail Campus garden has 5,000 square feet of terrain and over 42 different <br />types of trees, shrubs, and plants on display. The City also sponsors a Xeriscape <br />seminar for its customers to learn about the philosophy and methods for installing <br />and maintaining Xeriscape. <br />15 <br />