Filling The Gap: Front Range (2011)
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Filling The Gap: Arkansas Basin
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Conservation Strategies
Filling the Gap Report
Published literature and the Colorado Water Conservation Board's (CWCB) studies indicate that per capita water use can be significantly reduced over the next 40 years through existing conservation techniques, practices, and technology. A 34% reduction in per capita demand—the CWCB's "high" conservation strategy—would result in a reduction of 362,000 acre-feet of water demand annually by 2050. This high water conservation strategy is equivalent to reducing demand by 1% per year—a conservation target previously described by Western Resource Advocates.
Achieving the conservation savings for a high conservation strategy will require sustained efforts by water providers and local governments, and may require state legislation, but it is cost-effective and will not compel lifestyle changes or modification to landscaping far beyond what currently exists in many communities.
Only active water conservation savings could be used to meet new demands—256,000 acre-feet of the 362,000 acre-feet total. If 60% of the active savings are dedicated to meeting future needs, 153,000 acre-feet of new water supply will be made available annually by 2050.
Figure 6: Estimate of Front Range Water Needs Including the Acceptable Planned Projects and Conservation Strategies.
If 60% of active conservation savings are dedicated to meeting new demands, 153,000 acre-feet of new water supply could be made available annually to Front Range communities in 2050. 
“ Urban conservation, indirect reuse, and potentially win-win ag-urban cooperative water sharing arrangements play major roles in this strategy, while a select subset of new projects already on the books of municipalities is integrated with the nonstructural alternatives. This strategy should command consideration by water planners at State and local levels. ”—Chuck Howe
Professor Emeritus of Economics, University of Colorado, Boulder
Water conservation is often the cheapest, fastest, and smartest way to gain "new" water supply. While conservation does not increase the total amount of water a provider can utilize, water that is saved through conservation can be put to other uses, in effect, stretching existing supplies. Conserved water can be used by a utility to fulfill new customer demands, increase supply reliability, or provide additional flows to the environment.
Local Citizens Demonstrate Conservation Success
Front Range homeowner Diane Woods is one of many who have revamped their landscape as part of Aurora Water's xeriscape rebate program. The program—often referred to as "Cash for Grass"—provides up to $1 per square foot for turf grass that is replaced with low water use landscaping. "It was a concern for the environment" that drew Diane to changing her landscape, she says. After removing most of her sod, she replanted with drought-tolerant bushes and flowers. Aurora Water paid her a total of $3,400 to transition to xeriscaping.
Many homeowners like Diane Woods are happy with Aurora's rebate program, especially when they get their summer water bill. "From $280 a month to $89 two years later, so definitely it did conserve water," she says. While weather variations and plant sizes do affect water use, Diane will be reaping conservation savings for years to come.
Diane Woods' backyard.