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

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(External link) (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(External link), 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(External link), and we will email you when we reach major project milestones.

Take care, and stay water wise out there!

Project Manager Alice Conovitz