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<br />.~' ,-~' <br /> <br />WATER CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES <br /> <br />The Denver Water Department is one of only a few municipal water sup- <br />ply agencies with a formalized, on-going water conservation program. <br />That program was adopted by the Water Board in June 1979. A keystone <br />of this program is public education in techniques designed to reduce <br />water consumption. Since nearly 40% of the typical Denver area house- <br />hold's annual water use originates in outside law and garden irriga- <br />tion. the major emphasis of this program has been in this area. <br /> <br />To further the conservation effort, the "ET" (evapotranspiration) and <br />"Xeriscape" (low water use landscaping) programs have been used to <br />demonstrate effective ways of reducing outside-of-the-home water use. <br />The "ET" program resulted from a recommendation of the CAC Task Force <br />on "Landscaping and Water Conservation"; it will be put into effect <br />for the third summer season in 1983. The "Xeriscape" demonstration <br />program will be conducted for its second summer season in 1983, <br /> <br />The OWD is again preparing calendars for every-third day watering reg- <br />ulations for 1983. but probably on a voluntary basis. The daily "ET" <br />recommendations -- carried in area media -- will be based on this <br />three day cycle. <br /> <br />The question of universal metering of the Denver system is often asso- <br />ciated with water conservation. The CAC's "Metering Task Force" is <br />continuing its meetings into 1983; in addition. questions of metering <br />and other water conservation techniques are being considered in the <br />EIS. <br /> <br />Another form of water "conservation" is in the experimental stage in <br />the Denver Water Department's "Reuse Demonstration Plant". The Demon- <br />"stration Plant will become operational for purposes of testing poten- <br />tial water reuse in 1983. This demonstration project -- which places <br />the Denver Water Board as a national leader in the testing of reuse <br />technology -- is expected to cost between $26-29 million. Once the <br />plant is operational. it will be open to the public, <br /> <br />The Reuse Project publishes a periodic newsletter to those interested <br />in this scientific effort. <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />- 4 - <br />