HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 4/30/2024 - Memorandum From Mariel Miller Re: 2023 Annual Water Conservation ReportUtilities
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222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
970.212.2900
V/TDD: 711
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
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MEMORANDUM
Date: April 22, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
Travis Storin, Chief Financial Officer
From: Mariel Miller, Water Conservation Manager
Subject: 2023 Annual Water Conservation Report
BOTTOM LINE
In 2023, water use was 122 gallons per capita per day (GPCD), 6% below the current Fort Collins
Utilities Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) goal of 130 GPCD by 2030. This memo provides an update
on the progress toward the WEP goal and includes a copy of the 2023 Water Conservation
Annual Report. In 2023, the community and Water Conservation programs saved an estimated
130 million gallons of water. This is about 2% of the total treated water demand for 2023 and
equates to about 1,684 homes’ use (based on the previous 3 years’ average annual single-family
residential use).
BACKGROUND
Water Efficiency Plan (WEP)
The current WEP, approved by City Council in early 2016, sets a conservation goal and guides
the Water Conservation Team regarding services, programs, incentives, public education and
regulations. Water consumption is often characterized by daily per-person use, measured in
gallons per capita per day (GPCD), and is commonly used as an industry standard for
benchmarking; although water use and population calculation methods vary from community to
community. GPCD is calculated by taking the total annual treated water demand (commercial and
residential) and dividing it by the service area population and number of days in a year.
The current WEP goal is to reduce Utilities’ water service area use to 130 gallons per capita per
day (GPCD) by 2030 and outlines the five key areas of opportunity:
Leverage Advanced Meter Fort Collins data and capabilities.
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Promote and support greater outdoor water efficiency.
Encourage greater integration of water efficiency into land use planning and building codes.
Expand commercial and industrial sector strategies.
Increase community water literacy.
The GPCD for 2023 is 122. This means per capita water use was 12% less compared to 2022
(139 GPCD). The significant drop of GPCD in 2023 is due in large part to a 123% increase in
precipitation during the irrigation season compared to prior 3 years’ average. It is unlikely that the
2024 GPCD will remain at or below the 2030 goal of 130 GPCD, without continued wet and cool
weather during the summer months.
It is important to note that while GPCD can be used as an industry standard, it can be misleading
because it does not account for numerous data variability:
Commercial customers’ water use - the number and types of commercial, industrial and
institutional customers (certain industries or businesses, like restaurants, use more water).
Population due to commuters/visitors.
Weather, which can greatly affect outdoor water use.
The way water use is measured – Fort Collins Utilities includes water losses in the distribution
system since it’s measured from the point of distribution after the treatment plant.
Whether large contractual water users are included in the measurement, which Fort Collins
Utilities does not.
Whether a community uses raw or untreated water and whether the amount is included in the
water use measurement, which the city does use, but Fort Collins Utilities does not include it
in the measurement.
Staff is currently updating the WEP, which will provide an opportunity to assess whether GPCD is
the best metric to use and consider other possible metrics for measuring success, and influences
from variables like population growth and climate change on water conservation strategies.
2023 Water Savings Results
Water Conservation implements over 15 programs and services for commercial and residential
customers, both indoors and outdoors, with measurable water savings. It can be challenging to
measure the impact of other efforts and educational opportunities, but they are still beneficial. Of
the programs that have measurable savings, much of the savings continue to persist year -after-
year for the lifetime of the efficiency installation, whether it be a new landscape or toilet.
Water Conservation programs helped customers save an estimated 130 million gallons in 2023,
which is a 17% decrease in savings compared to the five-year historical average (2018-2022).
However, total treated water was 13% less in 2023, compared to a 3-year historical average
(2020-2022) and outdoor use specifically was 8% less than in 2023 than in 2022. This indicates
that water conservation programs were likely not contributing to 2023’s decrease in GPCD, but
weather or other factors were.
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In addition to being responsible stewards of our water resources, Water Conservation is one of
the most cost-effective strategies to increase reliability and reduce the need to acquire additional
costly water supplies. As the cost to acquire and develop water supplies continues to rise across
the state, investing in Water Conservation programs is one of our best tools for water resource
planning and management.
2024 EFFORTS
In addition to numerous events, educational opportunities, and program improvements, there are
two large projects that are expected to be completed by the end of 2024:
1. Xeriscape Code Amendments (fcgov.com/xsa) are an ongoing effort that started as a
council priority to minimize grass and high-water use turf in landscapes.
Q2-Q3 2024: Align code changes to reflect newly adopted state legislation and
present to Boards and Commissions for a recommendation, then Council for 1st
reading. (A separate process will be developed prior to 2026 to amend codes to
comply with state legislation that prohibits newly installed turf grass in streetscapes
and rights-of-way.)
Q1 2025: Proposed effective date for the following changes:
Limitations on the installation of high-water use turf, with some exceptions.
Restrictions of artificial turf.
50% living plan coverage on the surface of landscaped areas.
Dedicated irrigation to trees to support tree health in times of water restrictions.
2. The Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) (ourcity.fcgov.com/wep) is a Colorado State mandated
requirement that must be updated every seven years. A cross-departmental group of staff
are currently working on the update with a draft expected for Boards and Commissions to
review and recommend to Council in Q4 2024.
Q2-Q3 2024: Complete the water demand model to evaluate a multitude of factors
that will help the City and Utilities be more strategic when it comes to using water and
influencing the community’s use of water. Some of those modeling factors being
evaluated to create planning scenarios include:
Climate impacts.
Population projections.
Land development patterns, specifically density.
Various water efficiency and conservation strategies (programs, policies,
development standards, and other demand management efforts), which
influence water demand.
Supply projections reflective of climate impacts, which inform the need for
various degrees of demand management efforts or implementation strategies.
o Q1-Q3 2024: Integrated and equitable engagement
Advance equity, diversity and inclusion in the engagement and outreach
related to the plan and in the identified demand management strategies, so
there are equitable outcomes community wide.
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Integrate demand management strategies throughout the organization,
including water efficiency and land use planning.
Identify ways the City’s organization and operations can serve as a model.
CC: Gretchen Stanford, Utilities Deputy Director, Customer Connections
Jason Graham, Utilities Water Director
Jill Oropeza, Utilities Senior Director, Integrated Sciences and Planning
Jen Dial, Water Resources Manager
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TOTAL3.8
million gallons
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL TOTAL
40
TOTAL2.6
million gallons
Shift Your Water: 2.7 MG
Landscape Conversions: 1.1 MG
Outdoor Water Use
Home Water Reports: 24 MG
Eciency Rebates: 2.2 MG
Continuous Consumption
(Leak) Notifications: 7.2 MG
Combined Water Use
Ecient Product Installations
(Larimer County): 2.6 MG
Indoor Water Use
TOTAL33.4
million gallons
COMMERCIAL
COMMERCIAL TOTAL
90
Outdoor Water Use
TOTAL7.4
million gallons
Indoor Water Use
Eciency Rebates: 0.5 MG
Ecient Product
Installations: 0.1 MG
TOTAL0.6
million gallons
Combined Water Use
Continuous Consumption
(Leak) Notifications: 81.8 MG
TOTAL81.8
million gallons
Allotment Management
Program: 1.6 MG
Landscape Conversions: 1.8 MG
Midstream
Irrigation Rebates: 4 MG
TOTAL ANNUALSAVINGS:130
million gallons
WATER CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
Fort Collins Utilities has a strong commitment to ensuring the
efficient and responsible use of our natural resources. Our Water
Conservation Program started in 1977 and we continue to innovate
how we help the community use water wisely.
Gallons per capita per day (GPCD) is the total treated
water used by commercial and residential customers,
divided by the service area population (about 80%
of Fort Collins), divided by 365 days. GPCD helps
determine if conservation and efficiency efforts
and practices are impacting community water use,
irrespective of population growth. GPCD fluctuates
greatly with weather – hotter and drier months
during the irrigation season create higher water
demands for our community.
2023
Utilities
140,000
135,000
130,000
125,000
120,000
115,000
110,000
250
200
150
100
50
0
Community Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD) & Population
20
0
1
20
0
2
20
0
3
20
0
4
20
0
5
20
0
6
20
0
7
20
0
8
20
0
9
20
1
0
20
1
1
20
1
2
20
1
3
20
1
4
20
1
5
20
1
6
20
1
7
20
1
8
20
1
9
20
2
0
20
2
1
20
2
2
20
2
3
122TOTAL
137,400
20
0
0
211TOTAL
118,300
page 1
WATER
CONSERVATION
AND EFFICIENCY
AT A GLANCE
GPCD is down 42%
since 2000.
Based on total water treated.
Total Community GPCD
Population
PROGRAMS AND SERVICESWATER
SAVINGS
Actions in 2023
resulted in
approximately
130 million
gallons (MG)
saved or 2%
of 2023 total
treated water.
LEARN MORE
Residential Programs and Rebates: fcgov.com/save-water
Commercial Programs and Rebates: fcgov.com/water-efficiency
1,684 homes’
average annual
water use was saved
in 2023 based on
volume of single-
family home water
use (3-year average)
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page 2
2023WATER CONSERVATION
ANNUAL REPORT
Another way to evaluate our
impact on water use within our
service area is estimated water
savings.
Estimated water savings only
include results from programs
and services that have
measurable water savings, a
large portion of which persist
for years to come. Many of the
services we provide can’t be
easily measured.
Compared to 3-year historical average (2020-2022),
residential water use was down 20% and commercial water
use was down 8%. This is largely due to a 123% increase in
precipitation during the irrigation season in 2023 compared
to prior years’ average.
Overall, Utilities treated 6.1 billion gallons of water
(including unmetered use and other water losses), which
33 27
50 65
86
133
185
131
160 173
130
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
50
150
250
350
450
550
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Residential Commercial
3 Ye
a
r
A
v
g
.
3 Y
e
a
r
A
v
g
.
Estimated Water Savings (MG)
Total Monthly Water Use (MG)
equals 122 gallons per person per day (GPCD). This is a
42% reduction in GPCD since 2000 and meets our goal
of reaching 130 GPCD by 2030. However, 2023’s record
rainfall and wet, cool irrigation season played a large role
and reduced total treated water use by about 13%. If we
receive less rain in summer of 2024, it is likely that GPCD
will increase.
Total accounts: 32,204
• 28,872 single family & duplex accounts
• 2,332 multi-family building accounts
Total water use: 2,910,000,000 gallons
Average use per customer class:
• SF/Duplex: 64,384 gal/yr
• MF: 423,305 gal/yr
(includes multiple units)
Total accounts: 2,818
• Includes commercial, irrigation, and
HOA customers
Total water use: 2,193,000,000 gallons
Average use per customer account:
778,380 gal/yr
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERICAL
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Water use is constantly fluctuating – both our individual uses
and our community use. There are many factors that impact
how much water we use, but year-to-year fluctuations are
mostly attributed to weather. Long-term water reduction
trends generally result from efficient actions by water users.
When we have cooler and wetter weather, our water use
decreases, as seen in 2023. 2023’s record precipitation
during irrigation season is not likely to start a trend. Our
region is expected to continue warming and may receive less
precipitation over time due to climate change. Hotter and
drier weather makes water efficiency an even more critical
strategy to managing a reliable water supply.
• The Colorado Climate Center’s 2024 Climate Change in
Colorado reports a 2.3 degree F increase statewide since
1980 and estimates another 1-4 degree F increase by 2050.
Summer and fall are projected to warm slightly more than
winter and spring, extending the irrigation season into
the fall. The future of Colorado’s precipitation is much less
clear. Additional warming will drive greater evaporative
demand, which influences the amount of water needed by
plants to stay healthy. Therefore, warmer temperatures will
likely contribute to more frequent and severe droughts,
regardless of changes in precipitation.
• The 2019 Water Supply
Vulnerability Study
estimates climate impacts
will decrease water supplies
and increase water demands,
squeezing water resources
from both ends. This will
likely increase the need for
outdoor watering restrictions.
Community Gallons per Capita per Day (GPCD) & Precipitation (in)
WATER USE AND CLIMATE IMPACTS WATER CONSERVATION
ANNUAL REPORT
OTHER FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE WATER USE INCLUDE:
page 3
• Conservation: Actions such as taking shorter showers,
monitoring your outdoor water use, turning off the faucet
while brushing your teeth and other behaviors add up and
can make a collective difference.
• Efficient Fixtures/Appliance/Landscapes: Homes and
businesses that have water efficient appliances, fixtures,
irrigation, and technologies use less water every time
someone flushes, washes, showers, or waters their landscape.
• Leaks: The average household in the US wastes 10,000
gallons of water due to leaks every year, which is about 12% of
total average annual household water use. 10% of homes have
leaks that waste 90 gallons or
more per day.
• Population: More people means more water use. Total
residential and commercial water use all increase with a
growing population.
• Land Development Patterns and Urban Design: Less dense
developments with more landscaped areas require more
outdoor water use to maintain. Landscape types that are not
regionally adapted or native to our area, such as turf grasses
and others, require more water than nature provides.
2023WATER CONSERVATION
ANNUAL REPORT
OUTDOOR WATER
USE (COMMERCIAL
+ RESIDENTIAL) IS
35% OR 1.78 BG.
BG = Billion Gallons
SINGLE FAMILY &
DUPLEX OUTDOOR
0.74 BG
MULTI FAMILY INDOOR
0.84 BG
MULTI FAMILY OUTDOOR
0.15 BG
SINGLE FAMILY &
DUPLEX INDOOR
1.19 BG
COMMERCIAL
OUTDOOR
0.9 BG
COMMERCIAL
INDOOR
1.29 BG
RESIDENTIAL
INDOOR
2.03 BG
RESIDENTIAL
OUTDOOR
0.89 BG
211
199
183
154 146 155
171 161 153
135
146 141
166
142 139 141
157
141 143
131 138 139 139
122
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
25
75
125
175
225
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Community GPCD Precipitation
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LEARN MORE
Residential Programs and Rebates: fcgov.com/save-water
Commercial Programs and Rebates: fcgov.com/water-efficiency
WATER CONSERVATION
ANNUAL REPORT2023 WATER CONSERVATION HIGHLIGHTS
23-25044
2023WATER CONSERVATION
ANNUAL REPORT
page 4
• Assisted Mobile Home Park Residents: Supported
Neighborhood Services’ Mobile Home Park DIY series to
educate residents on water and energy efficiency. Water
Conservation attended four sessions to support about 90
residents with indoor and outdoor water conservation via
free, efficient fixtures and promoting our programs and
resources.
• Provided free Certified Landscape and Irrigation Audit
training: Hosted a two-day Irrigation Association class,
taught by Water Conservation staff, where 23 participants
learned to analyze landscape water use and increase
irrigation efficiency.
• Sprinkler Checkup Program: Conducted 412 checkups
across Utilities, Fort Collins-Loveland, and East Larimer
County water districts. Four trained technicians assessed
over 2 million square feet of irrigated landscapes, inspected
over 11,000 sprinkler heads, and piloted our first Spanish-
language checkups and informational
materials. In 2024, Utilities will provide checkups through a
partnership with Resource Central, ensuring the program’s
continuity and allowing time for staff to explore future
improvements. fcgov.com/sprinklers
• Distributed Water-Wise Pre-Designed Plant Pallets:
Partnered with Nature in the City and Resource Central to
distribute $25 discounts on mostly native Garden in a Box
kits to 170 residential water customers and $100 discounts
on Garden in a Box kits to 25 Income-Qualified Assistance
Program customers and mobile home park residents.
fcgov.com/GIAB.
• Supported Affordable Housing: Partnered with an
affordable housing provider to install 144 high-efficiency
toilets. Provided a rebate to support the project which
otherwise would not have been financially feasible. This
upgrade is estimated to save about 250,000 gallons
annually. fcgov.com/water-efficiency.
2024 FOCUS AREAS
• Water Efficiency Plan: Updating the 2015 Water Efficiency
Plan, which guides how Utilities customers use water and
recommends strategies to help use less. The updated WEP
will set new water conservation goals, incorporate extensive
public engagement, integrate land use planning, and employ
numeric modeling and an equity analysis to help prioritize
future water conservation programs, policies, and incentives.
Learn more about the WEP update and provide feedback at
fcgov.com/2024WEP.
• Colorado River Impacts and Water Shortage: Utilities
staff monitors the Colorado River’s status and ongoing
discussions about water shortages impacting the seven
states under the Colorado River Compact. Utilities sources
about 60% of water distributed to customers from the
Colorado River-Big Thompson project, which is stored in
Horsetooth Reservoir and managed by Northern Water.
If there are reductions in water use required in Colorado,
Northern Water would determine if, when and how much
our Utilities supplies would be reduced. If needed, we will
respond to shortages using the Water Shortage Action
Plan. As of now, there is no indication from Northern Water
of the need for drought management action.
fcgov.com/WSAP
• Landscape and Irrigation Training and Education: Hosting
free monthly garden tours by foot and bike, partnering
with Natural Areas for a sustainable landscape series, and
offering a class on efficient home irrigation. Emphasizing
native plant landscaping education remains a priority due
to its drought resilience and support for biodiversity and
pollinators citywide. Utilities collaborates with numerous
community organizations (One Canopy, Front Range Wild
Ones, the CO Native Plant Society, People and Pollinators
Action Network, the League of Women Voters, Nature in
the City, USDA NRCS, Wildland Restoration Volunteers
and Larimer Conservation District) for seed and plant
swaps, while offering discounted education for landscape
professionals. Additionally, we’re teaming up with Northern
Water to provide irrigation trainings and a native grass
workshop. fcgov.com/xip-events
• Xeriscape Codes: Proposing new landscape standards
in Land Use Code for City Council’s consideration and
adoption. New standards would apply to new development
and significant redevelopment of commercial and multi-
family properties. The following standards are proposed:
• Limitations on the installation of high water use turf,
with some exceptions.
• Restriction of artificial turf.
• 50% living plant coverage on the surface of
landscaped areas.
• Dedicated irrigation to trees to support tree health in
times of water restrictions.
fcgov.com/xsa
DocuSign Envelope ID: 636E1AA9-52AC-4BA1-85FE-EADF46F323F8