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

STERLING WATER CONSERVATION PLAN

MAY 28, 1996

Measure 2b - Efficientlv imaate Citv-owned landscaDeS: Parks and Recreation can
do a lot to efficiently irrigate City-owned landscapes. (1) Install automatic rain shutoff
devices installed on city sprinkler system controllers. (2) Ongoing adjustment of all the
controllers and watering schedules. (3) Annual training for irrigation staff, and
encourage irrigation staff to pursue certification through ALCC and IA. (4) Use raw
water for irrigation, where possible.

The City could work with the Lower South Platte. Water Conservancy District
(LSPWCD) in studying the efficiency of irrigation at city parks. The study could
establish a base from which to determine efficiency and effectiveness of water use.
Design changes, upgrading pumping systems and new technology may be a result of
the study.

Measure 2c - Provide annual seminar for sDrinkler contractors: Offer training to
sprinkler contractors about water-efficient irrigation design and installation. The
seminar would also cover sprinkler system permit requirements, and the importance of
training homeowners in using their controllers. The State does require a permit for
installing a sprinkler system, but this only deals with backflow prevention and pressure
issues.

Water savings may be up to 25 percent for each irrigation system installed.
Homeowners and businesses could save a lot of water if the installer property trained
them in using the controller and scheduling watering.

Measure 2d - Provide a service for Ia"dscaoe Dla" cfetian review: This would be
very time-consuming and therefore expensive. With the amount of development
planned in Sterling, it would take a lot of time to review all plans at development review.

Measure 2e - Use school yards as Darks for DubUc use: School yards are already
used as public use areas. This would not decrease the amount of area to be irrigated.

Measure 2f - ImDlement central imaatio" control for DubUc landscaDina: Central
irrigation control is a system whereby the irrigation of numerous, scattered sites (such
as with public landscapes) can be controlled from a single central location. The central
computer, along with the associated software, communicates via radio or modem to the
satellite irrigation controllers at each of the sites. Within a few minutes time, all of the
controllers can be. programmed indirect-relation to the actual water requirements of the
landscape, as determined bya weather station and software that calculates the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ evapotranspiratioll an<11n~.I the. raLntalL Jt~Y1d also allow lo.t thUnte.rnm.tion o[ . ..
all irrigation, in the event of a significant rainfall. Furthermore, it would signal an "alarm"
condition if a flowmeter on one of the inigationsystems registered too high (indicating a
pipe or sprinkler break), or too low (indicating an inoperative sprinkler or valve). To
date, a weather station has been installed and is accessible via modem.

3-Water-efflcient industrial and commercial water-using processes

Measure 3a - Encouraae businelSH to use water efficient techniaues: The City in
conjunction with Colorado State University Extension Office act as a resource to
commercial and industrial customers to encourage businesses to use water
conservation techniques and processes. It is hard to measure education measures,
but a business might see a water savings of 3 percent. Other benefits might include
reducing wastewater flows anel/or reducing contaminates entering the sewer system.

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