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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />2.2 WATER DEMANDS FOR THE PROJECT <br /> <br />The population projections contained in the reconnaissance study for <br />Pagosa Springs and Archuleta Water Company are still considered accurate. <br />The proj ected population increases came primarily from a previous study <br />that examined the proposed water treatment facility improvements (Davis <br />Engineering Service, Inc., 1982). The study contained population estimates <br />from 1981 through the year 2000 and water use estimates for sizing a water <br />treatment plant. Most of the information for designing a treatment plant <br />involves dealing in peak usages while reservoir sizing is based on annual <br />water use. For this reason the report is useful primarily for its <br />population projections rather than its water demand figures. <br /> <br />Historic water production at the pagosa Springs treatment plant for <br />the years 1981 through 1984 as recorded by treatment plant operators is <br />shown on Table 2.1. Also shown is the equivalent daily usage per person. <br />It is difficult to establish a clear trend from observation of this <br />information. The high use in 1984 was almost entirely due to heavy <br />irrigation use during the months of August, September and October after <br />severe water restrictions were relaxed. It may be noted that total annual <br />demand is heavily dependent on summer irrigation, and that irrigation <br />demand is in turn dependent on summer precipitation patterns. <br /> <br />The water use per capita in 1984 was 318 gallons per day. Town <br />officials recognize the per capita use is high but feel it is accurate for <br />several reasons. The town's water delivery system is leaky and old. <br />During new construction in the town, the pipe has been exposed in several <br />locations, revealing leaky joints and pipe deterioration. In order to keep <br />water pipes from freezing during the winter, residences leave their water <br />running indoors. The town's proposal to install meters in 1985 may <br />decrease the water usage. Studies conducted in other cities comparing <br />metered versus nonmetered water use generally indicate that the <br />installation of meters reduces total usage between 20% and 36% (Flak, <br />Weakly, & Hall, 1977). <br /> <br />2-6 <br />