The following was submitted as a letter to the editor in response to this article published Nov. 1 in The Gazette.
The Nov. 1 article, “Are Colorado homeowners stalling out on conservation?” demonstrates how water conservation is becoming more complex and challenging over time. While the data referenced is important for general statewide planning purposes, it doesn’t tell the whole story of the conservation efforts and progress that are occurring in our communities, and across the state.
Drawing conclusions about conservation using only six years of data doesn’t help us understand firm, long-range trends. The incremental amount of savings that may be reported during such a short period can get lost because of weather, economic conditions, or other factors which may affect water demands.
While residential per capita use is an important metric, system-wide per capita use trends better capture the full range of residential, commercial and industrial uses. Each community has its own unique mix of factors such as climate, geography and supply that influence their water conservation efforts. These differences often make “apples to apples” comparisons difficult.
The drought of 2002 fundamentally changed how we view our water. Once seen as a plentiful commodity, it now is seen as a scarce and precious resource. Utilities launched water conservation programs focused on reducing outdoor residential water use that produced huge efficiency gains since then.
With large savings now captured, water utilities are required to develop targeted programs geared toward more specific customer segments. These efforts are more labor-intensive and produce smaller, incremental water savings that will add up to significant savings over time.
Colorado Springs Utilities aims to save between 11,000 and 13,000 acre-feet of water over the next 50 years through conservation education and outreach, customer incentives, and policy changes. We’ll continue to be part of the statewide discussion on water conservation opportunities and changing needs in our quest to achieve reliable, long-term water savings for our community and state.
M. Patrick Wells, P.E., General Manager
Colorado Springs Utilities, Water Resources & Demand Management