Alamosa 1997 WCPlan - Laserfiche WebLink

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Cumn! as of: April 21, 1997 Section 3 - Existing Conservation Measures. Section 3.1 Water-Efficient Fixtures, In accordance with current plumbing codes and in coordination with the State Plumbing Inspector, the City requires that all new construction installs 1.6 gallon per flush water closets, 1 gallon per minute (gpm) urinals, 2.5 gpm faucets and showerheads, lavatory, kitchen and service faucets designed not to exceed a flow rate of2.2 gpm at 80 psi. All replacement plumbing fixtures must meet the same standards. Section 3.2 Water Supply and Use Study, In 1994/95 the City contracted with Agro Engineering to complete a study which documented existing and potential future water rights and sources. This study compared this information with current use patterns and included a general analysis of methods to address future water requirements and maximize current water sources. The study concluded that while the City has sufficient water rights for the foreseeable future, pumping rate limits in the decrees shall require major system improvements before the year 2000. Major findings of the study are as follows: 3 2.1 Volumetric limits, The maximum legal volumetric limit imposed on the City by decree is 8,200 acre feet per year. Current use is approximately 2,300 acre feet (1992 and 1993 data). From a volumetric standpoint the City has rights for.three and one-halftimes more water than is currently being used. 3.2 2 Flow rate limits, The maximum instantaneous flow'rate allowed under state decree is 5,700 gpm without being out of compliance with the decrees. The City cannot physically exceed this rate unless the plant well is used, which shall only happen in case of a fire emergency. That is, the wells as currently designed and operated are not physically capable of pumping at their decreed rate. 323 Peak hour demand. Peak hour demands are expected to exceed 7,035 by the year 2000. This is more than the system is physically capable of producing. Either pumping capacity and decreed rights shall have to be expanded, or additional storage shall have to . - be constructed in order to meet-peak -demands in the year -2000, -A.nother ~ptio/'l is 10 limit demand increases through conservation efforts. 3.24 Seasonal demand. Water demand in Alamosa varies between 92 gallons per capita per day (gpcpd) in the winter months to 431 gpcpd in the summer peak months. This more than four-fold increase can be attributed primarily to irrigation of the parks, golf course, college grounds, and yards. 3,2.5 Peak summer demands. Summer peak demand is fairly consistent because park and golf course watering is done during the night, when other demands are lower. Demand scheduling would appear to have little further effect on reducing peak hour use. 4