Sterling 1996 WC Plan

• Project Type: Water Conservation Plan
• Project Name: City of Sterling Water Conservation Plan
• Title: Water Conservation Plan
• Date: 6/21/1996
• County: Logan
• Water Conservation - Doc Type: Complete Plan

l
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
j
I
I
I

- - - - - --

I
]
)
I
I
I

STERLING WATER CONSERVATION PLAN

MAY 28, 1996

APPENDIX A - WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES CONSIDERED

Proposed Measures

Included below in this appendix are the 36 measures that the City of Sterting
considered for inclusion in the final plan. Some measures fit in more than one
designation.

City water-use measures

As identified in Objective #1, the overall success of a conservation program is largely
dependent upon the degree to which the public perceives the City as "practicing what it
preaches'. This can be considered to include two components. First, there is a need
for all city departments to be efficient in their use of water. Secondly, the City must be
equitable in its policies with all of its customers, including other city departments. No
favoritism with rate-setting, rebates or any other policy should be shown towards city
departments over other customers. Aside from the need to "lead by example", there is
the additional impetus that the City is one of the largest user of treated water and there
are ample opportunities to significantly increase the efficiency of use.

1-Water-efficient fixtures and appliances

Measure 1 a - Indoor water use audit of Citv-owned facilities: Audit indoor water use
at City buildings each year by analyzing consumption and checking for leaks.
Detennine if retrofit of plumbing fixtures would be cost-effective at any locations.

As with the irrigation of public landscapes, there are several uses of water at public
facilities that are subject to great scrutiny. One specific example is the showers at the
Recreation Center. They are currently the standard type of fixture, allowing the user to
turn them on and off at will. There is a potential for the showers to be often left on, with
a notable wasting of water and energy. As an alternative, push-timer activated shower
fixtures could be installed, requiring the user to activate the timer every 15 seconds or
so to keep it on.

The devices would probably have an acceptable payback period, in addition to being a
highly visible, symbolic demonstration of the City's intent to use water efficiently. This
. . _ __ _ _ "'proiect wo'4ld. shQw th~ CitY. ~~ a role .rnoq~LfQ.Lwise w.1lter uJ;e. -'l'LallltS8VinglUnight
reach 3 percent per building. The savings may be low for City of Sterling facilities
because so many of them are fairly new.

2-Low water-use landscapes and efficient irrigation

Measure 2a - Promote xeriscaDe and efficient irriaation: The City acts as a resource
infonnation about xeriscape and efficient irrigation by distributing publications,
sponsoring seminars, and maintaining a xeriscape demonstration garden.
Homeowners may see a savings of 25 percent of annual water use by incorporating
xeriscape principles in their landscapes. Customers would see reduced water bills and
the City would save treatment plant capacity during peak times. This is a public
education measure and it is hard to evaluate the savings.

Page45