Water Efficiency Plan Update

Thank you for your interest in the Water Efficiency Plan! Engagement has concluded on this project. Please visit fcgov.com/WEP to read the approved plan.

• Project Manager Update: City Council approved the WEP!

  Share Project Manager Update: City Council approved the WEP! on Facebook Share Project Manager Update: City Council approved the WEP! on Twitter Share Project Manager Update: City Council approved the WEP! on Linkedin Email Project Manager Update: City Council approved the WEP! link

  Thank you to everyone who has followed updates about the Fort Collins Utilities Water Efficiency Plan (WEP).

  In September, Fort Collins City Council adopted the 2025 WEP, aiming to reduce water demand, minimize water shortages, and keep landscapes healthy. Since then, we have been working with the Colorado Water Conservation Board to move through the state approval process. We’re nearly there! The final state-approved WEP will be posted at fcgov.com/WEP.

  Meanwhile, we're excited for the next step. Recently, our City WEP team kicked off the plan’s implementation! Now staff will start to work out specific details for how to turn the plan's goals into action.

  City projects are already making progress toward the WEP’s goals. Our Parks department is planning to incorporate water-saving measures like turf conversion and efficient irrigation equipment as they approach upgrades at Landings Park. The City is also replacing old water-wasting toilets with high-efficiency models in some buildings. These actions help our whole community by lowering municipal water use and improving public spaces.

  Thank you, again, for following along and your participation with feedback over the last couple years. We look forward to sharing our progress on the City's website and social media. We hope you continue to take part in our programming in the years to come so you can find ways to lower your own water use and take part in water conservation.

  Take care,
  Project Manager Alice Conovitz

• Project Manager update: WEP heading to City Council

  Share Project Manager update: WEP heading to City Council on Facebook Share Project Manager update: WEP heading to City Council on Twitter Share Project Manager update: WEP heading to City Council on Linkedin Email Project Manager update: WEP heading to City Council link
  

  After many months of hard work and valuable input received from the community, we are ready to seek approval of the 2025 Fort Collins Utilities Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) at the Sept. 2, 2025 City Council meeting. Once the materials are posted, they will be available here.

  The public comment draft was open for 60 days. We made revisions to the plan based on feedback received from community members, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and City boards and commissions.

  During public comment, we asked specific questions about the draft goals and efficiency strategies. We received eight online responses and one direct email.

  As a reminder, leading up to public comment, staff spent months collecting feedback from community members. These viewpoints were critical to the development of water efficiency goals, selection of efficiency strategies, and consideration of equity in the strategy selection process. From 2023 through June 2024, we made over 5,000 touchpoints.

  If you're curious about the conservation activities we do already and how they impact our water savings, click here to check out our most recent annual report.

  Thank you for your interest and participation!

  Sincerely,

  Project Manager Alice Conovitz

• Project Manager update: Equity in water efficiency - a focus on fair access and participation

  Share Project Manager update: Equity in water efficiency - a focus on fair access and participation on Facebook Share Project Manager update: Equity in water efficiency - a focus on fair access and participation on Twitter Share Project Manager update: Equity in water efficiency - a focus on fair access and participation on Linkedin Email Project Manager update: Equity in water efficiency - a focus on fair access and participation link

  The City of Fort Collins is committed to fostering equity in water efficiency efforts so all community members, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to take part in water conservation and efficiency programs.

  In our work to update Fort Collins Utilities' Water Efficiency Plan (WEP), we applied an equity lens throughout the process—from planning to choosing water conservation strategies. This means understanding different needs and barriers faced by diverse communities to ensure fair access to services and programs.

  Our approach included broad engagement with the whole community, as well as prioritizing the voices of those who might be most affected by water-related challenges, like people with lower incomes, renters, new residents, or small businesses. By elevating input from these groups, Utilities hopes to create strategies that not only conserve water that is shared by all, but also address disparities when it comes to accessing our programs.

  Key engagement efforts included outreach to historically underserved communities through community consultants, a community-wide survey, and accessible events. These helped us gather feedback from diverse groups and pinpoint challenges, like affordability, renter autonomy, and accessibility to water efficiency programs. We’re also working to understand and remove participation barriers, such as upfront costs or limited access to necessary technology. We aim to find ways to adjust strategies for the most benefit to our community.

  This work reflects a broader City-wide strategic objective: Identify and remove systemic barriers and advance equity so that persons of all identities, including race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, mental and physical abilities, and socioeconomic levels can access programs and services with ease and experience equitable outcomes. (City of Fort Collins 2024 Strategic Plan, Strategic Objective: Neighborhood & Community Vitality 3.)

  As water costs rise and climate change affects everyone, considering equity in the WEP update is just one effort toward a broader goal to create a more resilient, fair community. Utilities will continue applying these principles, tracking progress, and building strong relationships to support every customer, which helps secure a sustainable future for all.

  Thanks for checking in! This spring, you’ll have a chance to review the draft WEP and share your feedback. This site is a great way to stay up-to-date. You can also sign up to stay informed, and we will email you when we reach major project milestones.

  Take care, and stay water wise out there!

  Project Manager Alice Conovitz

• Project Manager update: Using your feedback to create the plan

  Share Project Manager update: Using your feedback to create the plan on Facebook Share Project Manager update: Using your feedback to create the plan on Twitter Share Project Manager update: Using your feedback to create the plan on Linkedin Email Project Manager update: Using your feedback to create the plan link
  

  Hey everyone! We’re thrilled to share the latest on our Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) update. We want you to be in the loop on how feedback will help shape the future of our community’s water use.

  Why update the WEP?
  We’re focused on two big goals: identifying the best water-saving strategies for our water service area and using conservation and efficiency to lower our risk of water shortages.

  
  

  What did we do?
  Our approach was all about listening and engaging. We hosted community meetings, worked with community liaisons to connect with historically underrepresented and disproportionately impacted community members, launched a wide-reaching survey to gather your thoughts and ideas, and held workshops with City staff. Thank you to the community members and staff who shared their time, thoughts, and perspectives! We connected with more than 5,000 people through various meetings, focus groups, community events, and surveys, dedicating more than 95 hours to listening to feedback.

  Key findings:

  1. What are your top water conservation strategies?
     • Most of you are into water-efficient fixtures and xeriscaping (landscaping that reduces the need for water). There's strong interest in focusing on outdoor water use and promoting native plants. Education was also highlighted as crucial, particularly for homeowners, landscapers, and homeowners’ associations.
  2. What concerns do you have?
     • The biggest worries are about our water supply’s long-term viability, especially under climate change, and having enough water for growth and future generations. There's a mix of feelings about how to tackle these issues, with some people wanting stricter regulations and others supporting broader public voluntary actions.
  3. Mandates vs. incentives: What’s the preference?
     • You’re leaning toward a mix of both. There’s support for regulating large entities, new development, and non-functional turf, while focusing on incentives for individuals and smaller businesses.
  4. Effective outreach:
     • The City needs to improve outreach, education, and programming to provide opportunities for everyone to lower their water use. We can do this by building strong relationships, meeting people where they are, and making information accessible through actions like language translation and flexible program participation requirements. Gaps in our current outreach include how we reach low-income renters, Spanish-speaking communities, and key stakeholders like realtors and landscapers.
  5. Drivers for action:
     • Most of you are willing to take action to conserve water! We learned that many feel that conserving water is everyone’s responsibility, so creating a culture of conservation across our community – including businesses, residents, and development - is important. Our community also wants the City to lead by example by taking action to use less water in public spaces like parks, streetscapes, and buildings. The good news is, the City is already off to a great start there!

  
  We’re excited to use these insights to enhance our water efficiency efforts and make sure everyone has a role in conserving our precious resources. Stay tuned for the next update and ways you can get involved!

  What’s next?
  Our current focus is on setting community-wide conservation goals and narrowing down conservation strategies by looking at factors such as equity impacts, resource needs, and water-saving potential. All of this work takes time – we plan to go to City Council in early 2025 to share updates.

  For now, take care, and stay water wise out there!

  Project Manager Alice Conovitz

• Project Manager update: Taking feedback and creating strategies

  Share Project Manager update: Taking feedback and creating strategies on Facebook Share Project Manager update: Taking feedback and creating strategies on Twitter Share Project Manager update: Taking feedback and creating strategies on Linkedin Email Project Manager update: Taking feedback and creating strategies link

  We recently wrapped up our community engagement. We documented the discussions, suggestions and survey responses and will use that feedback to help us write the 2025 WEP.

  The numbers:

  • 1,326 survey responses
  • More than 100 people participated in focus group-style sessions
    
    

  From the survey alone, respondents said their top five primary concerns related to water included:

  • Water shortages such as drought
  • Having enough water to support population growth and future generations
  • Using water to irrigate grass areas that are rarely or never used for gatherings, play, sports or other active purposes
  • Health and attractiveness of landscapes and trees
  • Being able to pay bills and fees
    
    

  Also of note, most survey respondents said they would be willing to take some action to save water in the next year. As a water conservation professional, that’s music to my ears!

  
  

  Staff also visited with and heard feedback from:

  • Local landscape professionals
  • Spanish speakers
  • Colorado State University students
  • Homeowners associations
  • Mobile home park residents
  • Library visitors
  • Small businesses
  • Older residents
  • City of Fort Collins Climate Equity Committee
  • City of Fort Collins boards and commissions

  
  

  Hearing from all these voices gave us a lot to consider. We took care to whittle down the 150+ water conservation strategies that people suggested by examining their impact. After several rounds, we are now deeply analyzing about 20 before deciding the strategies that we'll include in the WEP. As a reminder, the goals and strategies will be based on several key factors:

  • What we heard from our community
  • Potential for water savings
  • Potential for equitable outcomes
  • Cost
  • Practicality of putting something into place

  
  

  For now, take care, and stay water wise out there!

  Project Manager Alice Conovitz

• 2023 Water Conservation Annual Report

  Share 2023 Water Conservation Annual Report on Facebook Share 2023 Water Conservation Annual Report on Twitter Share 2023 Water Conservation Annual Report on Linkedin Email 2023 Water Conservation Annual Report link

  As we update the WEP to set new water conservation goals, it’s helpful to look at the current water conservation programs we offer our customers and our progress at lowering water use over time. You can find all of this information and more in the 2023 Water Conservation Annual Report.

  For the first time, water use was below the 2015 WEP goal of 130 GPCD! Average water use in 2023 was 42% lower compared to 2000, including actions that resulted in about 130 million gallons saved. 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 this summer, it is likely that GPCD will increase.

  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

  Learn more at fcgov.com/WCR.

• Project Manager update: Water is essential for life, and community input is essential for Utilities’ water planning!

  Share Project Manager update: Water is essential for life, and community input is essential for Utilities’ water planning! on Facebook Share Project Manager update: Water is essential for life, and community input is essential for Utilities’ water planning! on Twitter Share Project Manager update: Water is essential for life, and community input is essential for Utilities’ water planning! on Linkedin Email Project Manager update: Water is essential for life, and community input is essential for Utilities’ water planning! link
  

  As we update our Water Efficiency Plan, it has been so interesting hearing from our community. Incorporating what you think about our precious water resources will be a critical element of our plan development process. As of the end of March, more than 1,000 people have participated through meetings, tabling events, or survey responses to share their thoughts. It overwhelms me with appreciation!

  Our goal is to hear diverse voices. That way, we can develop water conservation targets and strategies that are inclusive and grounded in real-world experiences and concerns. I believe it is critical water programs, policies, and projects reflect the needs, aspirations, and values of the people they serve.

  Through community engagement we create dialogue and opportunities for shared leadership in addressing our community’s water challenges. Moreover, the updated plan will benefit from collective wisdom and creativity, which can bring innovative solutions. In its Municipal Water Efficiency Plan Guidance Document, the Colorado Water Conservation Board emphasizes the importance of transparency and public input when it comes to planning, noting that “the success of a plan is highly dependent on the public’s participation in conserving water.”

  What's next?

  Over the coming months, Utilities staff will work with communications experts to compile and evaluate the input we receive from our community. The water conservation goals and strategies included in the 2025 Water Efficiency Plan will be based on several key factors:

  • What we heard from our community
  • Potential for water savings
  • Potential for equitable outcomes
  • Cost
  • Practicality of putting something into place

  Thanks for checking in! This site is a great resource to stay up-to-date. You can also sign up to stay informed, and we will email you when we reach major project milestones.

  Take care, and stay water wise out there!

  Project Manager Alice Conovitz

• Meet us at the library!

  Share Meet us at the library! on Facebook Share Meet us at the library! on Twitter Share Meet us at the library! on Linkedin Email Meet us at the library! link
  

  Utilities staff is scheduled to be at Old Town Library on March 13, 2024 and Council Tree Library on March 15, 2024 to answer questions or have a conversation about water use and conservation. They will also have paper surveys on hand.

  In addition, Utilities will provide paper surveys at Council Tree Library, Old Town Library, and the Utilities Administration Building at 222 Laporte Ave. from March 11-22, 2024.

• Background

  Share Background on Facebook Share Background on Twitter Share Background on Linkedin Email Background link
  

  Utilities is updating the Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) to guide water use within the City organization and set future water use goals for Utilities’ water service area. It is also a requirement by the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). Staff will work on the WEP update from 2023 through the second half of 2024. Once adopted by City Council, Utilities will submit it to the CWCB for approval.

  Climate change is predicted to impact our water supplies and we may need more water to keep our community’s public and private landscapes healthy. Population growth and regional issues (e.g., Colorado River Basin drought) also impact our supply. City and community efforts have been successful at lowering water use – an average per person reduction of 34% since 2000. Still, the community is not on track to meet the 2015 WEP goal of 130 gallons per capita, per day by 2030. By updating the WEP and our efficiency goals, strategies and programs, we aim to continue reducing water use to increase resiliency for our whole community.

  The WEP update process embraces the One Water view that all water has value and should be managed in a sustainable, inclusive, and integrated way. This requires collaboration across City departments involved in water planning, protection, and distribution; land use planning and development review; and recreational uses such as parks, golf, municipal buildings, and other public spaces. The process also requires engagement with marginalized community members, as well as broad outreach to residential and commercial water customers.

  WEP will align with Our Climate Future (OCF) Big Moves and overall philosophy to align with community goals and values. OCF Big Moves 3 and 6 directly address water. Utilities' Water Conservation team will collaborate with the OCF team to build those into the work the City is planning for the next few years. The Water Conservation team is also responsible for putting strategies prioritized through the WEP update into practice.