News Article

Is it water waste? Maybe not! Why looks can be deceiving

Denver Water partners with large irrigators to ensure they reduce water use by 20%.

Raise your hand if you’ve done this recently.

You drove by a golf course and noticed how green it is. And you thought to yourself: They can’t be saving water during this drought.

Or you walked by a park or a school irrigating several days in a row and wondered: Why aren’t they following the watering rules that I have to follow?

A sprinkler sprays water on grass. — Are the sprinklers on at a school, park or golf course? A water budget may be in use. Photo credit: Denver Water.

You’re not imagining things. Yes, many parks, golf courses and other large public spaces will be watering a little differently this summer — and in many cases that includes watering more than the mandatory schedule of two assigned days per week. But why?

In many cases, water budgets are the answer. So, let’s dive a little deeper into this topic.

What is a water budget?

A water budget is an exemption from the watering schedule of two assigned days per week that most Denver Water customers must follow during the Stage 1 drought declaration.

Denver Water customers who are on water budgets agree to reduce their water usage by 20%, but they have a bit more flexibility in how they achieve the savings.

A sign that says, "This property is on a water budget." — Denver Water customers on water budgets have agreed to reduce their water use by 20% in return for the flexibility to decide how they reduce their water use. Image credit: Denver Water.

“Water budgets can be particularly helpful for large water users with multiple properties and unique demands for irrigation,” said Ryan Shepler, a senior demand planner and efficiency expert at Denver Water.

“Think about a park that must water a heavily used area before and after a large, public event. That area may require more water on different days while other areas of the park don’t. The park district also must manage multiple large sections of land with hundreds of irrigation zones that can’t all run within a two-day-a-week watering schedule.”

The same holds true for a golf course.

“The tee boxes, fairways and greens need additional water, but other large stretches of the course don’t,” Shepler explained. “Both the park and the golf course can still achieve a 20% reduction in water use overall, and by targeting selected areas to water less often, they can continue to safely maintain high-use turf areas for the community to enjoy.”

Who is eligible for a water budget?

There are specific parameters for who can apply to Denver Water to be on a water budget as these budgets are designed for nonresidential customers who have more than an acre of land requiring irrigation.

Sprinklers watering a field of grass. — Water budgets are designed for nonresidential customers who have more than an acre of land that needs supplemental water. Photo credit: Denver Water.

Parks and public-school districts, homeowners' associations and commercial properties are some examples of eligible applicants.

Residential, single-family customers are not eligible, even those with large landscapes.

How are water budget users held accountable?

Water budget customers’ usage is metered, just like residential customers. And they are subject to drought pricing as well. But water budget customers also are subject to financial penalties for using too much water, and their commitment to the program is formalized through a contractual agreement with Denver Water.

“These customers are under a high level of scrutiny,” Shepler said. “They sign a contract stating they must make a 20% reduction in their water use over the course of the contract. They are billed an additional fee for any water use that exceeds the agreed-upon amount in their contract. It’s a real commitment these organizations are making.”

It’s also important to note that water budget customers are still required to follow the summer watering rules that Denver Water always has in place.

Who are some of the organizations on water budgets?

Some customers with water budgets include Denver Parks and Recreation, the Jefferson County and Littleton public school districts, and the parks and recreation districts for Foothills, South Suburban, Cherry Creek Vista and the City of Lakewood. (Read how Denver Parks and Recreation is saving water this summer.)

“We reached out to large-water-use customers earlier this year when we started seeing drought conditions,” Shepler said. “They all acknowledged the situation and were committed to saving water. Many have made considerable investments in time and resources to improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems. We recognize their past efforts and appreciate their partnership in the program this year.”

What about customers irrigating with recycled water?

Recycled water comes from reusable supplies, and users are approved to irrigate any day of the week. Just like water budget customers, they are also required to use water wisely under the summer watering rules.

Currently, some Denver schools, more than 30 Denver parks, a few area golf courses, the Denver Zoo, and some HOAs and commercial property owners use recycled water to keep their landscapes healthy.

A sign that say, "This property uses recycled water." — Recycled water comes from reusable supplies. Users must use water wisely and are approved to irrigate any day of the week. Image credit: Denver Water.

Hopefully this information provides some helpful context for why and how some water users have more flexibility when it comes to conserving water.

But regardless of how those customers get there, it’s important to know that they are doing their part, too. After all, we’re all in this together.