Reexamining the Lawn Water Conservation In Colorado Springs

Re-examining the Lawn: Water Conservation In Colorado Springs Presented By Rachel J. Lohof And Carissa Ilg

“You have to get over the color green, you have to quit associating beauty with gardens and lawns. . . ” Wallace Stegner

Water in Colorado Springs • Mean Annual Precipitation~16 in. • Projected Population Growth-2. 5% • Water Rights Provide the Springs with 182, 900 acre-feet of water a year

Infrastructure and Water Rights • 22% of the drinking supply originates locally • 78% of the drinking supply is imported • Water is drawn from across the Continental Divide and from the Arkansas River system to the south • This water is stored in 25 reservoirs before treatment and use in the city

Benefits of Conservation. . . • Postpones the need for obtaining more water rights • Defers the need for more delivery, storage, and treatment infrastructure • Decreases the need for expanded wastewater infrastructure • Slows the implementation of taxes and rate hikes!

Benefits of Conservation. . . Conservation in Colorado Springs will decrease the city’s ecological impact upon the natural river and stream systems

Drawbacks to Conservation… • Wastewater systems impacted by decreases in effluent • Less water available for reuse • Artificial wetlands and high stream impacted • Groundwater recharge rates affected downstream

Why the Need for Green? • 56% of the drinking water ends up in landscape irrigation • 25% of the city’s drinking water runs off lawns ending up as wastewater • Bluegrass requires 18 gallons of water per square foot a year • Average residential users spend $185 annually on landscape irrigation

Where We Are Heading Build Consumer Demand ~Conservation plan ~Top down incentives

Current Conservation Efforts Colorado Springs Utilities • City wide metering • Non-potable water system • Education Programs ~school affiliated programs ~seminars, workshops ~award winning xeriscape demonstration garden • Evapotranspiration water guide • Audit Programs

Ahh…The Possibilities • Economic Incentives ~rebate programs ~tiered water pricing and seasonal rate structures • Voluntary versus Regulatory Approaches ~lawn ordinances ~pricing structures ~low flow regulations with new construction

Proposed Path to a Solution Media Outreach: Increasing Consumer Awareness • Brochure ~outline conservation efforts ~target households ~increase commitment to conservation ~influence personal perceptions • Commercial Competition ~encourage youth involvement ~target diverse audience

Proposed Path to a Solution Education ~expand programs in place and create additional progressive programs ~cumulative programs ~building a broader environmental perspective into existing curriculum ~cooperation with environmental educators ~relate subject to students daily lives

Proposed Path to a Solution Economic Incentives for Landscaping: • Rebate program: xeriscaping and water efficient equipment • Promote pride in the natural landscape • Expand demonstration garden program to a high traffic area

Sustainability

Acknowledgements • Steve Harris and Sharon Hall • Valerie Clubb and Amy Ottaway, Colorado Springs Utilities • Our EV 421 classmates • Ollie the Otter