Colo Springs 1998 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: Colorado Springs Utilities Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 1/31/1997
• County: El Paso
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

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7

Background and contextual information about the program
site description
demographic characteristics and political climate
breadth of participation
how need for measure was determined
relationship between measure and goals of program
schedule
background and qualifications of program personnel
administrative features

Statement of Best Judgement

It is the Water Resources' Department's best judgement that water conservation is a
critical element of planning for future needs. The rigorous and comprehensive planning
effort in order to determine water needs for the City to the year 2040 included an
exhaustive study of conservation measures the City might adopt to add to its already
effective conservation program.

The conservation consultants were asked to determine if a stringent enough conservation
program could be designed and implemented to eliminate the need for a new delivery
system within the next 50 years. The conservation consultants and the WRD concurred
that conservation alone could not meet the community's needs, However, a substantial
decrease in demand can be achieved through a more vigorous conservation effort; and
that decrease will be reflected in deferred need for capital improvement costs to the
community,

The best judgement of the Water Resources Department indicates that
approximately an additional 3%, on top of the already existing conservation
measures, of its 2040 water needs can be met through conservation. Slightly higher
savings could be realized through mandatory conservation. The WRD believes, however,
that the best route to lasting, reliable conservation is through public education in order to
change attitudes about conservation and ultimately-effect measurable behavioral <;hanges,

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