Laserfiche WebLink
<br />NWCCOG WATER EFFICIENCY PLANNING MODEL <br /> <br />I. project Goal <br /> <br />To create a planning tool for water providers in resort <br />communities to encourage leadership in the wise and <br />efficient use of the region's water resources. <br /> <br />II. Project Description <br /> <br />The project has several related components. The first <br />involves developing a better understanding of water use .J <br />patterns in the residential and commercial sectors of resort ~~ <br />communities. similar housing and lodging units, with and ~-Uj~ <br />without efficient water fixtures, would be compared. A ~ }liar -t <br />survey would be utilized in combination with the actual <1,,' <br />monitoring to better assess water use habits of the sampled ~I:" ~~J~' <br />population. ~QC~Pt. <br />This information would be put in spreadsheet format. ~~ <br />The spreadsheet would include certain service area specific' ~ <br />information (similar to the WaterPlan model), conservation ~ <br />measure financial data, and information on alternate water <br />efficiency devices. A simple user manual would be developed <br />to explain the use and interpretation of the spreadsheet. <br />Finally, the package would be disseminated to water utility <br />managers to assist in evaluating options for water demand <br />management planning. <br /> <br />III. Need for project <br /> <br />Resort communities in the headwater counties often find <br />themselves in the unique situation of promoting competing <br />uses for their water resources. For example, resort areas <br />are building more lodging units to attract skiers in the <br />winter months. These units require more water for domestic <br />use. simultaneously, however, the ski areas are using snow <br />making as a means to attract more skiers. Both uses put <br />greater demands on stream flows which are typically at their <br />critical low flow during ski season. <br />Often this problem is compounded because much of the <br />virgin stream flows are diverted to the front range. <br />optimizing the multiple uses of our water resources is <br />critical. Using water more efficiently in the headwater <br />counties is one effective means of accomplishing this. <br />~ocal water p:oviders need to provi~e ~ependable. , <br />suppl~es of domestJ.c water. However, eXJ.stJ.ng water_ S~.:~,.-;NJ.t..IJ....., Mif, <br />plannJ.ng tools do not apply to these resort areas. . - / / <br />Populations may fluctuate by more than ten fold in the <br />winter months. This fluctuation is a result of short term, <br />seasonal workers and a huge tourist population. These <br />individuals are on vacation, not in their own communities, <br />and so often abandon conscientious water use habits. In <br />addition, because of our location, lawn irrigation is not as <br />predominate because the growing season is shorter and <br />