Ft Collins 1995 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: City of Fort Collins Water Conservation Program
• Title: Water Conservation Program
• Date: 12/21/1995
• County: Larimer
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

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This day-long festival is organized and sponsored by the Water/Wastewater Utility and the
Northern Colorado' Water Conservancy District, and consists of a wide variety of
educational and entertaining activities and demonstrations related to water. Almost 2000
local fourth graders attended the 1994 festival.

Attachment B is a spreadsheet that details the public education component of the 1994 water
conservation program.

Plans for 1995 include the possibledevelopment of a professional quality exhibiUdisplay on
our regional water system, in addition to investigating the possibility of establishing a water
history museum. Also slated for 1995 is the hiring of a public information officer. One
major work responsibility for the positionwiIl be to expand the Watel;. Utility's public
education efforts.

5. Research all irrigated City-owned landscapes for the possibility of converting from potable
to raw water. and implement where it is determined to be economically justified.

Approximately 75% of the City's irrigated parks, medians, facilities, golf courses, and
cemeteries are irrigated with raw water. This measure directs that the 25 % of the irrigated
landscapes that are irrigated with potable water should be researched for the feasibility of
converting them to raw water. The majority of these acreages can be immediately ruled out
for consideration, given their distance from raw water sources. Another portion can be
eliminated for being cost-ineffective, with even a cursory review. That leaves a relatively
small percentage of irrigated landscapes that are worthy of further analysis. Research
completed thus far by Water Utility, and Parks and Recreation staff has found these
conversions to be cost-ineffective.

The cost-effectiveness of converting these areas to a raw water irrigation source has recently
improved for individual city departments, due to the gradual implementation of assessing
all city departments 100% of water charges. Likewise, the cost-effectiveness of utilizing
a raw water source for newly-acquired city-owned landscapes has improved. ~n_ ~ff()r!. ~ill_
,_ _ __!:>~made.JQ.re~\ill1uate these~Ses-orr an-annoai basis; ro-aoaress-any Cllarlges In the possible
cost-effectiveness. '

6. Provide an annual training prol!:ram on efficient watering for all city employees and contract
laborers that are involved with irrigation of City-owned landscapes.

The Parks and Recreation Department has established irrigation management expertise as
a major criteria in the annual selection of the two landscape maintenance contractors (one
for streets and medians and one for the smaller parks). The employees of these contractors
who are responsible for irrigation management are trained directly, as needed. The
continuation of their contracts will be dependent upon their performance, including efficient
irrigation.

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