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Meeting Water Demand Without Gunnison Water <br />from bluegrass turf to less water-intensive plants over a 30-year period. Achieving <br />these savings wilt require that metro-area residents find acceptable or prefer a land- <br />scape that is 50-100% xeriscape. We think that they will prefer it because it is more <br />natural, can be stunning in appearance, and is consistent with living sustainably in a <br />semi-desert. <br />c. Indoor Conservation Savings <br />Indoor urban water uses may be less discretionary than outdoor water uses <br />and, thus, there may be less water to be saved. Nonetheless, there are opportunities, <br />including appliances, such as clothes washer and dishwashers, plumbing fixtures and <br />toilets. <br />Indoor use breaks down as follows: <br />National indoor per capita use percent by fixture (Mayer et al. 1999). <br />To improve indoor water use efficiency, the 1992 Energy Policy Act set maxi- <br />mum flow ratings for residential plumbing fixtures like toilets, showerheads and <br />faucets.16' Since the law came into effect in 1994, new toilets sold cannot use more <br />than 1.6 gallons per flush. <br />Denver Water had an incentive program from 1990 through 1993, offering a <br />rebate for residents who replaced older toilets with ULF toilets. Lacking significant. <br />customer participation, Denver Water dropped the program in 1993 and since has <br />relied on "natural replacement" of toilets. Interestingly, a 1999 study by the AWWA <br />found the average Denver residence still uses 3.84 gallons per flush and only 10.8%' <br />of the homes were fully equipped with ultra low flow (ULF) toilets."' The "natural" <br />transition to ULF remains a slow process. To help address the drought, Denver <br />recently re-instituted a rebate program for toilet replacement. <br />An innovative practice adopted by Santa Monica and other California cities <br />requires non-ULF toilets to be upgraded to current standards when selling a property. <br />This takes the financial burden and participation problem off the water utility's <br />shoulders and accelerates the conversion process. <br />Gunnison Basin Water • 39