To: Members of the Castle Rock Water Commission
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Matt Benak, P.E., Water Resources Manager
Rick Schultz, Water Efficiency Supervisor
Linda Gould, Water Efficiency Specialist
Jakob Hartmann, Water Resources Program Analyst
Title
2023 Water Efficiency Master Plan Update
Town Council Agenda Date: NA
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) through the Office of Water Conservation and Drought Planning requires that water providers with total demands of 2,000 acre-feet per year (AF/yr) or more develop and implement plans that encourage customers to use water efficiently. In December 2006, the Town of Castle Rock adopted the 2006 Water Conservation Master Plan, which was subsequently updated in 2015 as the Water Efficiency Master Plan. Numerous factors require the plan to be updated including CWCB’s efforts in developing and implementing the Colorado Water Supply Plan, the projected population growth and the need for securing a sustainable renewable water supply for the future, advancements in technology, changes in conservation programs and goals, and change in the customer base with a significant increase of residential and non-residential accounts.
Since the 2015 update, there are numerous goals that have been completed:
• Water Budget Rate Structure changes;
• Public Right-of-Way and Town park landscape and irrigation retrofits. Retrofit areas include the Metzler Park ball fields, the Public Works Service Center, Centennial Park tennis courts, and Butterfield Park;
• ColoradoScape Retrofit Program expanded to non-residential customers with an increase in residential retrofits as well;
• Indoor conservation incentive program;
• Changes to Town Code allowing the use of greywater for toilet flushing;
• New residential landscape and irrigation fees for building permits;
• Water Wiser designation expiration and online course renewal;
• Complete removal of monoculture Kentucky Bluegrass on new construction or renovations.
With the 2023 update, new goals will be established. Some of these goals include:
• Implementation of Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI);
• Implementation of a program to include a ColoradoScape design with no turf allowed in front yards and maximum of 500 square feet of turf in back yards for new construction;
• Relocation and expansion of the Ray Waterman demonstration garden;
• Continued evaluation of alternative turf types (e.g. Tahoma Bermuda turf);
• Implementation of 0.80 gallon per flush toilets required for all new construction;
• Expand irrigation criteria to include master valves and flow sensors for all new residential construction.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
In June 1996, the Town of Castle Rock adopted a water conservation plan that set water conservation goals for the community. In December 2006, the Town of Castle Rock adopted the 2006 Water Conservation Master Plan, which was subsequently updated in 2015 as the Water Efficiency Master Plan.
On July 21, 2015, Town Council approved the Water Efficiency Master Plan Update.
Staff is in the process of scheduling meetings with various boards, commissions, and other groups including the EDC subcommittee, the contractor luncheon, the Home Builders Association (HBA), Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Public Works Commission.
The online survey is available until September 30, 2022 at <https://crgov.com/3425/Water-Efficiency-Master-Plan>.
Castle Rock Water held an open house on September 21, 2022 at Plum Creek Water Purification Facility.
Schedule and Budget Impact
Staff plans to submit a final draft of the WEMP to the CWCB by the end of 2022. Comments received from the State will be incorporated into the final plan and staff expects to take this to Town Council for approval in the first quarter of 2023.
By implementing the various planned conservation initiatives, there will be an impact to the water conservation budget, however, specific costs have not yet been determined. Budget changes will be made before the conservation initiatives are implemented.