Willows WD 1996 WC Plan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: Willows Water District Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 8/21/1996
• County: Arapahoe
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

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SECTION I - INTRODUCTION
Water is a limited resource which needs to be conserved to preserve the quality oflife for people
today and for generations to come. Willows Water District recognizes the need to protect this
precious resource and has worked to develop a Water Conservation Plan. This Plan has been
developed to meet the State of Colorado requirements of House Bill 91-1154.

1.1 Situation of Willows Water District
The majority of water users in The Willows Water District are residential. Little commercial and no
industrial water use exists. A5 of December 31, 1995, the District consisted of 6313 single-family
equivalents (SFE's), and 378 SFE's of commercial or irrigation. Future land development is limited
to approximately 200 more SFE's.

1.2 History of Conservation Methods

. During the mid 1980's, shower restrictors were distributed to interested costumers within the
District. Houses built more recently are equipped with water saving fixtures per the National
Plumbing Codes.

. Rate structures were implemented in 1990 to promote a reduction in the amount of water
used during peak months. Currently, water costs $1.70/1000 gallons for the first 22,000
gallons every two months and costs $2.12 per 1,000 gallons for use over 22,000 gallons.

. To help control watering practices during summer peak months, mandatory watering days
were enforced from 1978 to 1988. Regulating this policy proved difficult and costly. It was
then decided to switch the regulations to a system of voluntary watering which has proven
just as effective. Each spring, a watering schedule is provided to ~very customer in the
District for this voluntary system.

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. The District has also developed educational pamphlets which are sent with the water bills.
Officials from Willows Water District visited local schools to discuss water conservation with
student~ to increase awareness. Books on conservation have also _been donated to the local
libraries.

1.3 Existing Water Distribution System
The Willows Water District water system consists of 21 wells, two reservoirs, and three connections
to the Denver Water Department system. The wells are drilled into the Dawson, Arapahoe, and
Foxhill aquifers. The Arapahoe aquifer provides the best quality water for the District. There are
two wells providing 1500 gallons per minute and 13 wells that provide an average of 500 gallons per
minute from the Arapahoe aquifer. Less water is .taken from the Dawson and F oxhill aquifers. The
Foxhill wells are used solely as a backup water supply for emergency needs. . The two reservoirs have
a storage capacity of 8 I11jlIion gallons. Table I, on the following page presents the actual and design
demands of Willows Water District.

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