Presented by Nicholas Guthro (UC Colorado at Boulder) and Jorge Santiago Ramirez Nunez (UC Colorado at Boulder)

All the future scenarios projected in the 2023 Colorado Water Plan estimate significant gaps between supply and demand, and municipal supply gaps are identified as a major challenge and risk. Residential use is the largest component of water use in urban areas, with outdoor water use representing a significant portion of a household’s water use. This presentation explores the effectiveness of water conservation policies in Colorado and the effect of climate, population, and water rates. This will help stakeholders in the urban planning process build on the 2023 Colorado Water Plan objective for a more water-resilient Colorado.

Presented by Peter Mayer (WaterDM), Abbye Neel (Brendle Group), Courtney Black (Intera)

Colorado WaterWise just completed an update to its Guidebook of Best Practices for Municipal Water Conservation. The project included extensive stakeholder outreach. This session will introduce the new guidebook and resources.

Facilitated by Lisa Pace (Colorado Springs Utilities) with panelists

Urban landscapes as we know it are changing. To create the vibrant communities of our future, installing more resilient landscapes must start today. Learn from program participants about how various landscape water conservation programs are working towards more resilient, urban landscapes that offer a high quality of life.

Facilitated by Liesel Hans (Alliance for Water Efficiency) with panelists

Non-Functional turf is the hot topic across the Colorado River Basin. The Alliance for Water Efficiency partnered with 27 utilities across 7 states to explores water-saving opportunities and challenges in largescale landscape transformations and irrigation optimization strategies. This project focused on program effectiveness, stakeholder involvement, and how multiple benefits are being considered along with water savings. The project’s aim is to inform program design and policy development. Get a sneak peek of project results, hear from organizations tackling this topic in Colorado, and chime in with your own insights.

Presented by Rita Jokerst, Margarita Padilla (City of Greeley)

Greeley Water Conservation is expanding its services to meet customers’ needs more equitably. After identifying typically underserved populations, the team developed targeted strategies to engage them in conservation program development. This presentation provides an overview of methods used, highlights key themes from the feedback collected, and outlines the next steps the Greeley team will take to implement the community's suggestions.

Presented by Abbye Neel (Brendle Group), Nathan Alburn (City of Loveland)

The City of Loveland adopted its newest Water Efficiency Plan in 2020. The City lacks dedicated water conservation staff, and with ambitious water savings goals and over 30 strategies, implementing the City’s Water Efficiency Plan is no easy task. This session reviews the City’s lessons learned and best practices to implementing what is included in the plan.

Prepare to be inspired as our sponsors share their passion and expertise, offering a glimpse into the future of water innovation. Don't miss out on this unparalleled opportunity to connect with industry leaders, learn about the latest trends and developments, and explore the multitude of opportunities available through our sponsors.

Facilitated by Melissa Wills (Colorado River District) with panelists Kevin Reidy (CWCB), Julie Baxter (City of Steamboat), Rachel Zerowin (High County Conservation Center), Laura Bohannon (Eagle County Conservation District), Randi Kim (City of Grand Junction)

This panel will provide remarkable examples and discussion around the hard work being done on the West Slope of Colorado by water providers and dedicated nonprofits to make strides in water conservation. The Western Slope of Colorado poses unique obstacles for water providers, thus encouraging leaders to think out of the box when helping their communities adapt to a hotter and drier climate.

Presented by Sam Schreier (Colorado Springs Utilities)
For Colorado Springs Utilities, commercial, industrial and military customers make up 37% of total water sales and where more than 35% of our annual savings are targeted through 2030. To meet this goal, new programs are needed. This session explorations our findings related to cooling towers, car washes and new efficiency technologies such as Boss Defrost.

Presented by Katie Duke (City of Golden)

In 2023, Golden City Council authorized a Waste of Water Ordinance that defines allowable and prohibited water uses to use water more efficiently. This ordinance limits outdoor irrigation to no more than three days a week and only during certain hours. Given limited staff resources, Golden is leveraging AMI technology, along with a customer facing portal, to observe watering patterns across the city. Residents have access to the same software as city staff, which is marketed as a transparency and support service to residents.

Presented by Perry Cabot (Colorado State University)

Colorado State University's Irrigation and Water Resources program addresses water scarcity in agriculture through innovative projects on irrigation technologies, crop water use, and alternative crops. It aims to enhance irrigation efficiency with LoRaWAN, UAVs, and AI, while studying alternative forages and pulse crops for sustainable water management in Western Colorado.