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<br />Project Implementation <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />In 1992 the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG) received a grant from <br />the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) of $20,435. The grant involved the <br />development of a specialized computer planning program ("model") and implementation of a <br />retrofit demonstration project to assist resort communities in the development of water <br />cOnservation plans and programs. The project produced a spreadsheet program, based on <br />actual water consumption in the short term rental sector, which identifies five indoor water <br />conservation options. The model allows the user to evaluate alternative investments in water <br />efficiency measures versus facility expansion costs for selection of the most beneficial <br />program. <br /> <br />The project can be broken into four parts. First: the collection of water consumption data in <br />the short term rental sector. Second: a survey of user satisfaction with indoor water <br />conserving devices. Third: development of a model which would allow water or sanitation <br />districts to evaluate the potential savings of various water conservation programs" Finally, <br />the development of a brochure for homeowners which would help them evaluate individual <br />water efficiency options. <br /> <br />Water Consumption Data in the Short Term Rental Sector <br /> <br />The City of Steamboat Springs identified a condominium complex (the Ski Inn), which was <br />willing to participate in the project by allowing a retrofit of one of their buildings. Another <br />similar building was used as a control. The City of Steamboat Springs installed water meters <br />on each of the buildings in July of 1993. The water conserving building (Building 200) was <br />retrofitted with 1.6 gallon per flush toilets (two toilets per unit), 2.5 gallon per minute <br />shower heads (two per unit), and faucet aerators (three per unit). The control building <br />(Building 300), was"not modified. <br /> <br />In each building, four "Water Tracker" water meters were installed on the shower heads to <br />provide flow information, and one "Water Tracker" water meter was installed in each <br />building on a toilet to verify flush volumes. Five toilet flush counters were installed in each <br />building. Staff of the Ski Inn provided occupancy data for each of the buildings, although it <br />was necessary to obtain additional data from four units which were owner occupied or <br />rented. Water consumption and occupancy data was monitored August 1993 through March <br />1994 (eight months). Total occupancy for Building 200 during that time was 7,757 persons <br />and for Building 300 was 7,888 persons. These occupancy data were used to obtain water <br />consumption on a per person per day basis. <br /> <br />The study found that showers averaged 4 minutes and toilets were flushed 5 times per person <br />per day. Showers appeared to be slightly longer and toilets were flushed more often in <br />Building 300, suggesting that the new fixtures not only used less water, but may have also <br /> <br />2 <br />