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<br />II <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />similar since both are agriculturally oriented and anually impacted by an influx of <br /> <br /> <br />summer tourists. From 1970 through 1975, consumptive use in Durango averaged 385 <br /> <br /> <br />gallons per capita per day. However, the consumption rate in Cortez is not expected <br /> <br /> <br />to reach this level because water is more expensive and metering is provided, whereas <br /> <br /> <br />Durango water is unmetered. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />As shown in Table 4-5, average consumptive use within the City of Cortez has been <br /> <br /> <br />fairly stable from 1963 through 1978. Consumption during the last 7 years of record. <br /> <br /> <br />(1972 through 1978). has averaged 275 gallons per capita per day. This rate is <br /> <br /> <br />believed to be lower than projected levels because water has been rationed during <br /> <br /> <br />some summer months, and the capacity of the Cortez treatment plant is limited. <br /> <br /> <br />The drought of 1977 reduced water usage to the lowest level in 13 years. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Average consumption in the rural areas has traditionally been much lower than in <br /> <br /> <br />the City of Cortez, as indicated by Table 4-6. This difference is apparently due <br /> <br /> <br />to the high cost of water and the restriction of supply in the rural areas. In <br /> <br /> <br />the past, water demand has generally been limited to household use with lawn <br /> <br /> <br />watering, car washing and other outside uses curtailed. However, as Table 4-6 <br /> <br /> <br />reveals, water usage has increased dramatically from 10 gpcd in 1968 to a high of <br /> <br /> <br />116 gpcd in 1976. The low consumption rates in 1977 and 1978 probably resulted <br /> <br /> <br />from the drought and an increased number of taps on the system. With the devel- <br /> <br /> <br />opment of reliable and less costly water supplies in the rural areas, consumption <br /> <br /> <br />could conceivably increase to the average level experienced in Cortez. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The Colorado Water Conservation Board has recommended that future water requirements <br /> <br /> <br />be estimated at a maximum of 200 gallons per person per day, with a 10% or 20 gallons <br /> <br /> <br />per capita per day allowance for losses. This value has been established to assist <br /> <br /> <br />communities in developing water conservation programs that foster maximum utilization <br /> <br /> <br />of water resources. Historically, water usage within the region has exceeded this <br /> <br /> <br />recommended rate, approaching instead an average value of around 250 gallons per capita <br /> <br /> <br />per day. Increasing this figure by a 10% or 25 gallons per capita per day allowance <br /> <br /> <br />for losses, it equals the present day average consumption rate established above for <br /> <br /> <br />the City of Cortez. If a sincere program of water conservation and management is <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />-22- <br /> <br />I <br />