Water Efficiency Plan Update

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Person holding a glass of water

Water is an essential resource for all of us. The City of Fort Collins and Fort Collins Utilities have a strong commitment to ensure its efficient use.

Utilities is updating its current Water Efficiency Plan . The updated plan will guide how we all use water and set fresh goals to reduce the amount we use as a community. Learn more detail about the WEP and why it is important in the background below.

The WEP update process includes developing a new water modeling tool. The tool will look at water demand and potential savings from various efficiency and conservation strategies, considering current and future climate and population predictions. In addition to expected water savings, strategies will be evaluated for equitable outcomes, cost, and other variables. The WEP update process will also incorporate engagement focused on a One Water approach and on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Person fishing on a river

By updating our water efficiency goals, strategies, and programs, we aim to continue reducing water use to increase resiliency for our whole community.

We are interested in hearing from you on ways we can use water better. Explore this website's various information and engagement opportunities, and always feel free to get in touch.

Update me! Click here to sign up to stay informed.

Person holding a glass of water

Water is an essential resource for all of us. The City of Fort Collins and Fort Collins Utilities have a strong commitment to ensure its efficient use.

By updating our water efficiency goals, strategies, and programs, we aim to continue reducing water use to increase resiliency for our whole community.

We are interested in hearing from you on ways we can use water better. Explore this website's various information and engagement opportunities, and always feel free to get in touch.

Welcome to Questions!

We hope you've had an opportunity to explore the variety of information and engagement opportunities on this webpage!

Community perspective is an important input for our decision making. Other important inputs include scientific data analysis, our lessons learned by trying conservation strategies here in Fort Collins, learning what has worked or not worked in other communities, and careful consideration of the equitability of processes and outcomes of this plan.

After looking around, what question is coming up for you? Please share here, and our team will get in touch within the next couple days.

Share Use of water for urban farming should be priced differently. We have a large vegetable garden and feel that we are penalized financially for watering. Are there any plans to to address this in the future. on Facebook Share Use of water for urban farming should be priced differently. We have a large vegetable garden and feel that we are penalized financially for watering. Are there any plans to to address this in the future. on Twitter Share Use of water for urban farming should be priced differently. We have a large vegetable garden and feel that we are penalized financially for watering. Are there any plans to to address this in the future. on Linkedin Email Use of water for urban farming should be priced differently. We have a large vegetable garden and feel that we are penalized financially for watering. Are there any plans to to address this in the future. link

Use of water for urban farming should be priced differently. We have a large vegetable garden and feel that we are penalized financially for watering. Are there any plans to to address this in the future.

Ted Lawrence asked about 1 month ago
Thank you for your comment. Vegetable gardens are important to many in our community. Depending on the crop and irrigation method, in our climate, food gardens are typically moderate-to-high water users. In addition to food, gardens can provide other benefits such as:
- reduced carbon emissions from localizing food systems
- social connection
- mental/physical health
- supporting biodiversity
One of the challenges for Utilities when it comes to food production water use is accurately distinguishing between water use for lawns and gardens. In the Water Efficiency Plan update, we are exploring long-term strategies that could relate to outdoor water use for urban food production, such as updating our existing residential water budget calculations (more info here), submetering, and evaluating rate structures. Our current programs encourage efficient outdoor water use through rebates for efficient irrigation controllers and equipment, as well as drip irrigation, rain collection, and soil amendment resources. (fcgov.com/utilities/residential/conserve/water-efficiency).