Loveland Indoor Retrofit Final Report

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Regional Colorado to test water conservation projects Grants given to 14 communities, water agencies for innovative proposals By MEUNDA WHllNEY CoIIsgian RsgionaJ Rspo<tsr The Colorado Water Conscrva- tion Board has approved fllIlding for water conservation projects lhroughout the Slate. In November 1991, the Off",e of Water Conscrvatiun dislribUled applications to Co10r.ulo com- munities and water agencies encouraging water conservation proposals, acamIing to a news release from the board. Sixty-three applications were received. and 14 of those were appmved. Gl3I1lS were awarded ro Car- bondale, Loveland. Sil~ Caslle Rock, Gilcrest, San Miguel Conoty, Bayfield, Lake Pueblo SIaUl Pork, Arvada. Steamboat Springs, Fort Col1ins. LaSalle, Northwest Council of Govern- malts and Cherry Creek Valley W8lI:1:Dislria. .Colorado is not in a bad waler situation, bill ...e need 10 start using our namraI resources more wisely so when we need water it will be th=," said Kim Ho~ adminisnalOr of the Orr",e of Water Conservation. Printed in CSU COllegian, April 1, 1992 16 Attacnment f COLLEGIAN The Water Conservation Act of 1991 set up the Orr",e of Waler Conservation and authorized 5500.000 for pilot W8ll:1: conser- vation programs. she said. The off",e is a resource that will allow Colorado communities to get information and receive help, she said. .We want the money to be used as an incentive for innovative ideas conccming water conserva. cion." Hulll said. The programs will give Color- ado more of an unde""anding of wbat will work and what will n~ she added. Fort Collins has requested 510,000 to observe the water. saving benefits of placing organic maItrials such as compost manure and grass clippings inlO the soil, said Jim Clark. w8ll:1: conserva- cion specialist with the City of Fat Collins Water and -,yasIC W8lI:1:UtiliIies. Fort Collins has a high conlCllt of clay in the soil, which allows W8lI:1: 10 pass through. With the addition of these organic mater. iaIs, the soil is able to bold waw better, so the amount of water used to W8lI:1: lawns will decrease, be said. ''We plan ro offer rebaICs of 5125 to 50 new homeowners in Fat Col1ins. and volunlCCrs will add organic mattrials 10 the soil before landscaping. We will then compare the water savings with 50 other homes that the malCrial was not placed inlO the soil," he added. Fon Collins anticipalCS having this program enacted by this sum- mer and comparing results from the test siteS in the summer of 1993. This type of program has never beC2l done in acwal yards. and the information will be very uscfulro the SIaUl and the nation. althou.h there are differences in soil nationally, he said. "We have a fairly good waler supply. but the climate can change, or demand for W8lI:1: may increase, and we need 10 be pre. pared for S!ICh changes," he said. The City 01 Loveland has rcqueslCd S16,3OO to conduct indoor water use assessment. acamIing 10 Lauric D' Audoey, engineering teebniclan with the City ofLoveIand. . .We will look for household leaks and place water consava- cion devices on flXlllreS such as shower heads and faucelS on 500 single-family homes. After a year, the W8lI:1: bills for these homes will l1>al be compared ID 500 homes that we.. not researched," she said. "There is quile a substantial difference in the water used when these devices arc placed on toilets, faucets. and shower heads," she added. The program is expected to begin June 15 of this y=, with all devices inserted by SeplCmber, she said. "Most people are very con~ scious about their W8lI:1: bill and arc anxious 10 be part of the prog. ram to see the results... she said.