ELCO 1996 WCPlan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: East Larimer County Water District Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 1/6/1997
• County: Larimer
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

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Section 1. Background

East Larimer County (ELCO) Water District is a political subdivision of the State of
Colorado. It is governed and operated in accordance with the Colorado Special
District Act. Special Districts are locally funded units of gove=ent founded to
provide necessary and desired service within a designated area. The District is
governed by a directly elected five-member Board. Board members serve staggered
four year terms and oversee the District's programs, policies and projects. As a
quasi-gove=ental agency, ELCO does not operate for profit. It generates only
enough revenue to cover the cost of its operation and is not under the jurisdiction of
the public utility commission.

The District was created by court decree on January 15, 1962 after voters in Larimer
and Weid Counties approved formation of the District. ELCO Water District
, provides drinking water to homes and businesses located north and east of Fort
Collins, Colorado. District boundaries encompass approximately 53 square miles.
The map on the following page shows the area served by ELCO Water District.

Before ELCO was established, there were no public water supply systems serving
rural areas near Fort Collins. Fort Collins was unable to provide water service
outside its city limits. Rural residents obtained drinking water from shallow wells or
cisterns. It was difficult for some rural residents to receive high quality drinking
water from their wells or cisterns. Rural residents also had to limit their water use to
prevent their wells or cisterns from running dry. Water quality and supply problems
were eliminated when ELCO began delivering treated water to rural areas.

Since its creation in 1962, much of the rural area served by ELCO has been
developed for residential and co=ercial uses. Over the years, ELCO has improved
its water treatment and delivery system to acco=odate the water supply and fire
protection requirements of new developments within the District.

In the su=er of 1996, there were 3,630 customer accounts receiving water from the
. . _ _ _ _ ~lstrict._ _ TW9_ <:!oII!.e~ti~ _\'{2-~L~l1Im!i~r1L ~o J~c:~iv:e_ tre_~t~<i water tOIll g~~Q 9A ~
wholesale basis: Northern Colorado Water Association and Sunset Water District.
These two wholesale customers account for approximately 12% of the District's
annual water use.

An increasing number of ELCO's new customers are located within the city limits of
Fort Collins. Approximateiy 30% of the District service area is within the area
designated by the City and County to be developed at urban densities. The Fort
Collins Water Utility and ELCO have an agreement that insures new developments
receive water service from which ever water utility can best provide service.

Residents of Fort Collins and the surrounding area are exposed to a number of water
conservation messages. The City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado State
University, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, area Water Districts and
local nurseries disseminate water conservation information through utility bill inserts,
free brochures, school and public events, workshops, newsletters and advertisements.

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