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<br />,~~\""'..... -'~6-\\ l..-\oz..c\S
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<br />GUEST OPINION
<br />
<br />Water conservation plan in pipeline
<br />
<br />Lynne Wegley
<br />Ciry of l.ongtoWnt
<br />
<br />The City of Longmont's Water Utility
<br />is currenUy drafting a Water
<br />Conservation Master Plan with the
<br />~"';""'l'<:e of a committee representing
<br />various co=1IIlity interests -
<br />b"""'--' education, environmental,
<br />, home builders, League of Women
<br />Voters, neighborhood leaders, parks
<br />and recreation, plumbing industry and
<br />the Water Board. A draft of the master
<br />plan will be available for public review
<br />and comments in November and
<br />December. ' "
<br />
<br />A sni-vey on water conservation was
<br />mailed to a random sample of
<br />residential water customers in March.
<br />The results clearly indicate that '
<br />Longmont residents consider water
<br />conservation either urgent or very
<br />Important. Eleven percent said it was
<br />urgent and 62 percent said it was very
<br />Important. The results of the survey will
<br />gaide.the committee as they draft the
<br />conservation master plan.
<br />
<br />state law requires thata water '. ,
<br />conservation master plan must be'
<br />completed by July 1996. The legislation
<br />suggests the plan consider the following
<br />, conservation measures: water-<!fficient
<br />fixtures and appliances, low water-use
<br />1."rl"",,-pes and efficient irrigation, ,
<br />water-efficient industrial and
<br />commerc:ial water-using processes,
<br />water reuse systems, distribution
<br />system leak repair, ';;C:~TninSltion of
<br />information regarding wateruse-- '
<br />efficiency measures, water rate '
<br />structures designed to encourage water
<br />- --oJSel!fficiency, reguIalllrymeasures.
<br />and incentives to Implement water use
<br />efficiency teclmiques.
<br />
<br />Although a master plan is mandated,
<br />there are a number of other Important
<br />reasons why a master plan is being
<br />written:
<br />
<br />. To prolong the adequacy of existing
<br />water resources and delay capital
<br />
<br />construction of new treatment plants,
<br />reservoirs and facilities.
<br />. The city's commitment to '
<br />responsible, environmentally sound, ,
<br />and efficient use of natural resources.
<br />. To create an awareness among the
<br />public that we live in an arid climate.
<br />. The efficient use of our water
<br />system infrastructure to meet the needs
<br />of a growing population.
<br />The committee is in the process of
<br />developing a set of goals and best
<br />maDagement practices to address a
<br />p1anfer water conservation in our-' ,
<br />l'mnml1Tl;ty. One of the defined goals is
<br />that the city should act as a role model
<br />for the co=unity in Implementing,
<br />pr;l.,n,,;"g and achieving water ._
<br />conservation. We feel it's Important
<br />that the city not ask residents to do
<br />something it's not willing to do ilself.
<br />Comments from the sarvey reinforced
<br />this concept. , ,;,:
<br />Another clear message fron1 the.: '
<br />survey was the importanCe of ,_,,"
<br />education. There are IIIlIIly suggestions
<br />to implement practices or programs
<br />wbich are already in place, and ~
<br />, committee will explore betterways to
<br />get this information out to the
<br />community. For example, we have:
<br />L A meter conversion program that
<br />assists with the upfront costs of meter
<br />installation.
<br />2. An increasing two-bloclt pc;rl....ti.l
<br />rate structure that charges more fox:
<br />water usage oVer 20,000 gallousa :,.
<br />month.:;'
<br />3. A low-income senior rebate on
<br />waterrates. ,
<br />'L An ordinance whlcl> prohibits ..",,'Ie
<br />of water by allowing it to run onto the
<br />streets and sidewalks. '
<br />, Also, the Parks Division follows
<br />.. xeriscape principles in the l~"rl"""pe
<br />design of all new parks and arterials.
<br />Xeriscape is defined as Creative
<br />11UIrl"('.ping, which conserves water and
<br />protects the environment. It consists of
<br />
<br />sevenfundamentaI principals: planning
<br />and design. turf alternatives. mulches,
<br />zoning of plants, soil Improvements,
<br />efficient irrigation and apIH ull1iate
<br />m:Aint""~nce.
<br />
<br />If you are renovating an existing
<br />l~"rl"""pe, xeriscape can easily be
<br />phasedin over a period of time. We
<br />encourage everyone to visit the
<br />demonstration xeriscape garden at
<br />Sunset Park located directly across the
<br />pa:ldni lot from the swnnm;"g pooL
<br />There are 80 different types of
<br />water-wise plants, trees and shrubs.
<br />Each plant is labeled, and plant lists are
<br />available at the garden. Also, Xeriscape
<br />Colorado's bi-monthly newsletter.
<br />"Water WISe," is distributed at the
<br />publiclibrary and local garden centers.
<br />Thesarvey responses emph~";7P<i the
<br />needfor both adult and youth education
<br />in waterconservation methodologies
<br />and practices. Residents support
<br />education and voluntary water
<br />CDIISl!rVation practices rather than
<br />regulations and mandates. Education
<br />altematives the committee will
<br />,.""..;rl.... for p'oSSible Implementation
<br />are residential water audits, rebate
<br />programs, an annual water fair for
<br />elementary students, curriculum
<br />development and teacher workshops,'
<br />andxeriscape """';"~1"S.
<br />The process for developing the city's
<br />Water Conservation Master P!all
<br />;,,~lnd"S surveying resident attitudes
<br />and comments via a water conservation
<br />questionnalre, drafting of the master'
<br />plan by a committee representing
<br />commumty mtereSts, and a ~ ..
<br />public comment period. The final
<br />master plan document should truly
<br />reflect the values of the commllIlity and
<br />serve as a work plan for the Water
<br />Utility's conservation program.
<br />LJllllle Wegley is projectmaDager for
<br />the City ofLoDgmont's Water
<br />Omservation Master Plan.
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