Voluntary Watering Restrictions Enacted

The Pinery Water & Wastewater District is asking residents to reduce their lawn watering this year on a two-day-per-week schedule to counteract the effects of the drought. Please note – this is a voluntary program. Last year voluntary conservation worked very well. Residents saved 20% of their normal use, and we expect that similar results can be achieved this year.

The blizzard in March improved the state’s water supply outlook, and the Pinery’s supply is in relatively good health. By mid-April snow pack levels in the South Platte Basin, a key source of water for Douglas County, were 111% of average for the year. However, it will take much more precipitation to recharge the state’s reservoirs completely, so the District has decided to respond cautiously with a voluntary conservation program. Effective conservation helps us manage our water supply responsibly and enables us to qualify for state capital construction funds.

On April 22nd the District held a public meeting to explain our voluntary conservation plan and gather input from residents. About 80 people attended the meeting. Afterwards, the board approved the plan, as follows:

Voluntary lawn watering restrictions: Two-days-per-week by address. Homeowners whose addresses end in an even number may water on Sundays and Thursdays. Those with odd addresses may water Saturday and Wednesday. Commercial areas such as Pinery HOA entryways, schools and parks may be watered on Tuesday and Friday. Monday will be reserved for water system maintenance. (See table below).

Voluntary watering hours: No lawn watering between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

No limits on watering of trees, shrubs and gardens. Planting new landscaping and sod is also permitted.

Water budgets for largest users: The District is establishing “water budgets” for our largest commercial customers such as Pinery Country Club, Pradera Country Club, Douglas County Schools and Parks. They may irrigate when and where they feel necessary so long as they stay within budget.

Rate increase for highest residential use: The District has added a surcharge block for excessive water use (see next article for details.)

Encourage large residential customers to conserve: As we did last year, the District will contact our largest residential users to encourage conservation.

Increase public education: We will step up our efforts to teach conservation through public meetings, our newsletter and other activities.

Reduce hydrant flushing: Flushing to reduce sediment in our system will be restricted. Residents who experience water quality concerns may request flushing by calling our office.

Rate Increase for Highest Residential Users

As part of the conservation plan for 2003, the Pinery Water & Wastewater District is raising rates for residents who use very large amounts of water. The new rate is $9.00/1,000 gallons for water usage above 120,000 gallons in a two-month billing period, beginning June 1st. The remainder of the water rates will remain the same.

An overwhelming majority of our customers will not be affected by the rate increase, as they use far less than 120,000 gallons of water in two months. Only about 1.6% of the residential bills we send out exceed this limit.

Recently, the District, in conjunction with other water providers and landscape professionals, examined both indoor and outdoor water requirements. The results showed that a large lawn with landscaping could be adequately maintained with less than 120,000 gallons of water in a two-month period.

Most other cities in the area are increasing rates in response to the drought, some much more than we have needed to. In Denver, people who use more than 100,000 gallons in a two-month period will pay $15.47 /1,000 gallons for excess consumption. That’s almost double the price of our new higher rate block.

Overall, Pinery Water & Wastewater District’s water rates are a bargain compared to other nearby cities. In Castle Rock, for example, rates begin at $2.08 per 1,000 gallons. In Parker rates start at $1.88/ 1,000 gallons, whereas for Pinery residents rates begin at just $1.50 per 1000 gallons.

The District held a public meeting April 22 to gather input on our conservation plan, including the rate increase. Following a period for public comment, the Board voted to implement the plan in full.

Last year, the majority of our residents hopped on the “conservation bandwagon,” helping us cut our water usage 20% over a normal year. We hope the rate increases will encourage users of excess amounts of water to reduce their consumption as well. Customers likely to be affected by the rate increase will be receiving a letter warning them of higher bills to come and urging them to cut their usage.

This year we are again recommending a voluntary lawn-watering restriction program. Combined with the rate increase for water guzzlers, we are hoping everyone will adopt reasonable lawn watering habits.