| HOME | ||
| Weather | ||
| Maps | ||
| Water Conservation | ||
| FAQs | ||
|
||
|
||
| KEYWORD SEARCH | ||
|
Water Conservation at Northern Water The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District takes great pride in its ongoing water conservation program. Northern Water provides supplemental water to 750,000 water users in the South Platte Basin in northeastern Colorado. As a regional water provider, it is Northern Water’s responsibility to show stewardship in water conservation and promote efficient use of this scarce resource. There are many components to Northern Water’s water conservation efforts: Agricultural water conservation programs
Through its Irrigation Management Service (IMS), Northern Water has been educating farmers about more efficient irrigation methods for more than 20 years. IMS was formally adopted in 1981. IMS includes the popular Northern Water weather station network, which includes a network of 24 remote, automated, solar-powered weather stations that collect data to calculate agricultural crop water use and provide irrigators, turf grass managers and homeowners with reliable evapotranspiration information. The weather station web page at NCWCD.org receives nearly 2,000 visits every month. IMS also includes field-by-field demonstrations of agricultural irrigation scheduling, agricultural field demonstrations of irrigation BMPs (Best Management Practices), a surge valve loan program, educational activities, low-cost canal and farm field turnout gate automation and a cooperative salinity monitoring program. Urban landscape water conservation programs Northern Water dramatically expanded its water conservation efforts with the development of its Landscape Water Management and Conservation Program in 1994. It exists to provide practical information to homeowners and industry professionals about how to conserve water outdoors while maintaining attractive landscapes.
As part of the urban water conservation program, Northern Water created The Conservation Gardens at Northern Water in 2004 at its Berthoud facility. It contains many water conservation demonstration plots relative to landscaping and is open to the public. Northern Water staff conducts trainings in The Conservation Gardens and at other venues to teach irrigation professionals how to reduce wasted water by installing and setting sprinkler systems properly. Participation in regional, statewide and national conservation efforts Northern Water actively participates in and supports numerous conservation organizations and efforts. Some of those include: Colorado WaterWise Council – Northern Water is a member of this group that promotes the efficient use of Colorado waterwww.coloradowaterwise.org ICI benchmarking taskforce – Northern Water belongs to this team that is examining methods to improve water conservation in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors www.brendlegroup.com/nocoici Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense Program – Northern Water is a promotional partner with the EPA for its WaterSense Program, which promotes and enhances the market for water-efficient products and services www.epa.gov/watersense Irrigation Association – Northern Water participates in various IA activities, and Northern Water staff members teach IA courses www.irrigation.org Public education
Northern Water’s conservation outreach consists of informational brochures, videos, educational displays, online resources and the Speakers Bureau. The written materials are distributed at meetings, on tours, at display booths or as requested by the public. In almost every contact with the public, Northern Water discusses and emphasizes the importance of water conservation. Northern Water’s Speakers Bureau is a time-tested method for informing the public about water conservation activities. Staff members give presentations to a wide variety of groups including schools, civic clubs, professional organizations and ditch and irrigation companies. The program has been in place for more than 20 years. Each year, Northern Water hosts four to five water festivals for area children as well as dozens of workshops and tours for water professionals, school and community groups and the general public. Carryover and Regional Pool programs Northern Water’s Board of Directors encourages and promotes water conservation and efficient water resources management through its policies and programs such as the carryover and regional pool programs. Improvements to infrastructure Northern Water continues to update, upgrade, rehabilitate and refine its collection system and delivery system to maximize water conservation. A new computer accounting system Northern Water recently implemented helps to more efficiently manage water resources. Want to know more about Northern Water’s water conservation programs? Consider the following resources: Esther Vincent, Water Quality Manager Ron Boyd, Landscape Water Management & Conservation Specialist Mark Crookston, Irrigation Management Department Manager | ||
 |
||
