Castle Pines Metropolitan District’s Irrigation Efficiency Program

Castle Rock, Colorado – Merit Award, Water Management, Planning & Analysis

SUBMITTED BY

Brian Bair, ET Irrigation

PROJECT OVERVIEW

• In 2020, Castle Pines Metropolitan District identified a pressing need for infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
• These improvements provided an opportunity to enhance water conservation efforts.
• Visible reductions in water usage across the District were observed.
• The District set a goal of reducing water consumption from irrigation by at least 100 million gallons per year.
• This reduction represented approximately 30% of the District’s water usage in an average year.
• The District aimed to complete this goal within a 5-year time period.

ROLE OF THE IRRIGATION CONSULTANT

• Landscape Water Budgets and Data Verification: Creating budgets using drones and validating data for effective decision-making.
• Waste Reduction Opportunities: Identifying significant opportunities, establishing financial resources, and developing a rebate program.
• Internal Workflow Model: Establishing a streamlined workflow model and educational programs to raise awareness.
• Creation of a Road Map: Advising on a user-friendly “Irrigation Efficiency Path” for residents.
• Irrigation Efficiency Assessments: Identifying improvement areas for both HOAs and custom homes.
• Irrigation Management: Managing CPMD-owned systems and some HOAs’ systems for optimal water usage.

SPECIAL FACTORS

• The Water Committee collaborated extensively with an Irrigation Consultant to formulate a comprehensive strategy for achieving specific conservation goals.
• The consultant was engaged as the project lead to assist District staff in guiding the community toward these objectives.
• This irrigation efficiency program is a crucial step toward realizing the District’s conservation goals, reducing water usage, and ensuring responsible management of this vital resource.