Loveland 1996 WC Plan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: City of Loveland Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 5/1/1996
• County: Larimer
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

The City's raw water supply includes native water from the Big Thompson River and
water from a transmountain diversion, the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. Loveland's one
water treatment plant treats water to a quality better than standards set by state and federal
regulations, More than 275 miles of water transmission and distribution lines carry water to
customers. Wastewater receives primary and secondary treatment before being discharged
into the Big Thompson River.

In 1981, the City Council established a Water Board to make policy recommendations to
the City Council concerning water resource issues. Meeting monthly, the Board makes long-
range plans for Loveland's future raw water supply and storage needs. Of the nine Water
Board members, two are City Councilors.

Water Conservation in Loveland

Loveland frrst introduced water conservation with lawn watering restrictions in 1893, just
six years after the utility was established, The town was divided into two sections, one wa-
tered from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the other from 1 p.m, to 9 p,m. From 1970 until 1981, water-
ing restrictions let customers water only every two or three days. Some years, regulations
prohibited customers from watering during the hottest part of the day. The restrictions were
lifted in 1982 after the installation of water meters and the expansion of the water treatment
plant.

In June 1980, City Council passed an ordinance requiring all water services to be me-
tered. Over 8,000 meters had been installed by the end of1981. The results of the metering
program were better than expected from a water conservation standpoint. Table 1 illustrates
the effect of meters on water use. Note that in 1981 lawn watering restrictions were in effect
that allowed watering only every third day,

Table 1. Effects of water meter installation (million gallons)

Peak day
Average day

19.5
7.2
2620.4

15.0
6,0
2203.8

-23.1

Total production

-16.7
-15.9

In January 1994, Water and Power created a Water Conservation Specialist position to de-
velop and carry out the City's water conservation program. Duties include coordinating
water conservation projects, answering customer questions, distributing information and pro-
viding youth education programs.

Water Conservation Plan

2

May 1996