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HISTORY OF THE OFFICE The Water Conservation Office was created In 1978 and staffed by an Engineering Technltion. Early conservation programs Included educational efforts, landscape and soil amendment recommendations and energy conservation programs. In 1980, this position was moved permanently into the Utilities Department, renamed Water Conservation Specialist, and the duties were limited to water conservation. Today, the Office of Water Conservation has one full time and one pan time employee (Appendix A) who are continuing to modify, update, and develop new conservation programs to best serve the citizens of Aurora. As pan of the program's ongoing review process, the Conservation Office has actively sought out public comment. In 1979, the Water Conservation Advisory Committee was formed. The Committee advised the conservation officer on a variety of sublects from adoption of the Lawn Permit Ordinance to suggestions for program expansion. In 1992, the Conservation Office again sought public comment, forming the Water Conservation Task Force. Comprised of representatives from City Council, the business community, residential homeowners association, landscape industry, plumbing Industry, environmental community and city residents, the Task Force stUdied existing programs and made recommendations for future conservation programs. AURORA'S WATER CONSERVATION PHILOSOPHY It Is the poliey of this City to Incorporate conservation measures In the City's overall review of water acquisition and development. Conservation is viewed as an element of the City's water resource planning. The goals of ensuring efficient use of available water and protection and presenvation of present and future water resources are Integral elements to water resources palnnlng. The City's conservation programs emphasize education over regulation. A public water conservation ethic Is being Instilled through a carefully balanced series of educational programs and regulatory measures. Water supply and demand fluctuates in response to weather patterns. An effective conservation program must accommodate changing conditions (both supply and demand) and at the same time, be acceptable to, and understood by, citl:ens if water savings are to be realized. HISTORY OF WATER CONSERVATION IN AURORA From 1918 to 1954, the Denver Water Board supplied adequate water for a growing Aurora. In t 954, a combination of factors, Including drought and the growth of the Metropolitan area, caused shonages within the Denver water supply system. The Water Board responded to this crisis with the establishment of a "blue line", beyond which they would not provide water. The boundaries created by the line excluded an area ~reJlly settled by iUlrur a residenu, and would hdve precluded fuwre-gr-owth of the City until the Denver - Water Board developed additional water supplies. To free Itself from outside restrictions on grOwth, the City of Aurora decided to Implement an Independent water supply. During the following thlny years, Aurora took affirmative steps to develop water supplies in order to meet a boom growth period that placed Aurora 3'!1ong the fastest growing cities In the United States. The Water Conservation Office was created In 1978 and staffed with an Engineering Technitlon. In t 980, this position was moved permanently Into the Utilities Department and renamed, Water Conservation Specialist. One of the goals of the conservation program was to Incorporate conservation measures In water supply planning. In 1981, spring snow pack readings were the lowest on record throughout the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Due to a lack of carry-over storage and low water yields, it became apparent that summer demand would have to be reduced. In response to the drOUght, twO ordinances were adopted. The Wasting Water Ordinance, section 39-78, (Appendix D) defined outdoor/Irrigation waste and enforcement procedures. The Lawn Permit Ordinance, section 39.79, (Appendix C) limited the amount of high water _ using sod, including Kentucky Bluegrass, that could be planted based on total lot si:e. In addition, the lawn 1