Water service extension ordinance

As part of our long-term planning, we are helping our customers continue to conserve water, which can stretch our supplies. At the same time, we are working to secure additional supplies to help meet future needs. Today, we can reliably meet 95,000 acre-feet/year of demand. Our current water usage averages 72,000 acre-feet/year (using a five-year rolling average). Maintaining a buffer between these two numbers is part of responsible planning. It helps us reduce our exposure to risks that threaten our water supply. These risks include continued drought in the Colorado River Basin from which we source half our water supply.

Current City code asks us to have a surplus supply, but doesn't define the amount. A proposed ordinance being considered by Colorado Springs City Council sets a specific amount for that buffer. As one condition for extension of water service, it would require our Reliably Met Demand* to be 130% of existing usage, establishing a 30% buffer between supply and demand. The ordinance would impact how and where the City extends our water service.

We recently asked for community feedback on the water ordinance. The summarized survey results were presented to the Utilities Board during its Nov. 16, 2022 board meeting. This feedback is helping inform City Council discussions on the ordiance proposal.

At the Jan. 10, 2023 City Council meeting, the ordinance was amended to change the requirement of super majority approval of extension of service to a simple majority approval of extension of service. The amended ordinance was approved and will proceed for second reading.

At the Jan. 24, 2023 City Council meeting, the amended ordinance was presented for second reading, but again amended to change the Reliably Met Demand of 130% to 128%. The amended ordinance was approved. Another reading is required due to the new amendment.

The amended ordinance was approved during the Feb. 14, 2023 City Council meeting.

For information on how we plan to meet the water resources needs of our community, please see our Sustainable Water Plan. Learn more about what you can do to conserve and use water wisely in our community.

*Reliably Met Demand is defined as the customer demand that can reliably be met by our water system while maintaining Level of Service criteria through known risks to our supply.