After what has been a bit of a circumlocutious road for a number of organizations and individuals, it appears that some real progress is about to be made regarding identifying the true costs and benefits of water conservation in Colorado. I am speaking specifically about the Colorado WaterWise Council convening a group from across the state to develop a working list of indoor water conservation best management practices.
For the uninitiated, best management practices (or BMPs) are those activities or programs that entities can implement to improve water use efficiency in their home or business or office. Water providers in Colorado have been developing water conservation plans that list BMPs that they plan to implement for the combined benefit of themselves (water conservation can reduce the costs of developing new water supplies; postpone pricey new capital projects like expanding water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities; etc.) and their customers. However, real water conservation is often driven by individual water customers improving their own water use efficiency because it saves them money - for reduced water use reduces energy costs (for heating hot water) and water and sewer bills.
The State of Colorado has tried repeatedly to develop an understanding of the cost and benefit of water conservation, in part to support the Interstate Basin Compact Commission (IBCC) process, without success. This is not necessarily the State's fault, for good, reliable information regarding the true cost and benefit of improved water use efficiency has only recently been collected in many areas of the state. Denver Water, for example, may have been collecting cost benefit information for perhaps the last 8 to 10 years,... but most locations do not have the resources and therefore programs that Denver Water has had to bring to bear on the issue. Not until recently (the last 2 years or less) has substantial information been collected through "hands on" water audits and meaningful planning efforts to help shed light into the true cost of water conservation.
It is not surprising that the results of recent information collection efforts indicate that thoughtful, focused, meaningful water conservation can be had by any entity that seeks to implement it. The current challenge for improving Colorado's water conservation efforts is more a matter of getting the right information to those that wish to act upon it. Enter the Colorado WaterWise Council and their working group that will be attempting to bring together the most recent information collected statewide, and then packaging it for use by a broad group of water providers and water customers. Let us wish them well.
For the uninitiated, best management practices (or BMPs) are those activities or programs that entities can implement to improve water use efficiency in their home or business or office. Water providers in Colorado have been developing water conservation plans that list BMPs that they plan to implement for the combined benefit of themselves (water conservation can reduce the costs of developing new water supplies; postpone pricey new capital projects like expanding water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities; etc.) and their customers. However, real water conservation is often driven by individual water customers improving their own water use efficiency because it saves them money - for reduced water use reduces energy costs (for heating hot water) and water and sewer bills.
The State of Colorado has tried repeatedly to develop an understanding of the cost and benefit of water conservation, in part to support the Interstate Basin Compact Commission (IBCC) process, without success. This is not necessarily the State's fault, for good, reliable information regarding the true cost and benefit of improved water use efficiency has only recently been collected in many areas of the state. Denver Water, for example, may have been collecting cost benefit information for perhaps the last 8 to 10 years,... but most locations do not have the resources and therefore programs that Denver Water has had to bring to bear on the issue. Not until recently (the last 2 years or less) has substantial information been collected through "hands on" water audits and meaningful planning efforts to help shed light into the true cost of water conservation.
It is not surprising that the results of recent information collection efforts indicate that thoughtful, focused, meaningful water conservation can be had by any entity that seeks to implement it. The current challenge for improving Colorado's water conservation efforts is more a matter of getting the right information to those that wish to act upon it. Enter the Colorado WaterWise Council and their working group that will be attempting to bring together the most recent information collected statewide, and then packaging it for use by a broad group of water providers and water customers. Let us wish them well.
