The Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! campaign is designed to address the multiple challenges of an environmental issue known collectively as aquatic nuisance species. Invasive species represent one of the greatest threats to our waters. Recreational activities are a potential pathway for aquatic invasive species to spread. Do your part--clean all visible plant materials and sediment from boats, waders, fishing gear and other equipment. For more information on this important subject, visit www.protectyourwaters.net.
WATERSENSE
According to a new Environmental Protection Agency study, if one in 10 homes in the United States was renovated with water-efficient fixtures, it would save more than 300 billion gallons of water and $2 billion annually! A typical home with water-efficient fixtures can save 30,000 gallons of water per year!! Fixtures that are water savers are marked with the WaterSense label. For a list of WaterSense labeled products, go to www.epa.gov/watersense .
H2 WHOA!
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make 'em think.
Stop and think about water--where it comes from, how it's used and how important it is.
Learn what you can do to save water.
Conserve and learn...it's everyone's responsibility.
WHY CONSERVE?
The graph below illustrates, the vital necessity to conserve water within the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD or District) boundaries.
As shown in the graph, the PAWSD has the capacity to meet the water demand needs within the District until about 2014. After that, demand is expected to outpace supply. The time to construct new storage facilities, however, is typically more than 20 years.
PAWSD CONSERVATION SERVICES:
In addition to answering questions, a conservation specialist will be glad to send a packet of information on how to save water both indoors and out. Contact the PAWSD office at 731-2691 to request an information packet.
In addition, the PAWSD frequently participates in or sponsors conservation-related workshops and events. Listed below are some of the more recently sponsored and/or upcoming events:
National Water Week display at the Ruby Sisson Library; May 4-10, 2008; Pagosa Springs, CO
Water 101: Co-sponsored by the PAWSD; March 20, 2007; Pagosa Springs, CO
Annual Builders Association Home Show participation; May 5-6, 2007; Pagosa Springs, CO
National Water Week display at the Ruby Sisson Library; May 7-17, 2007; Pagosa Springs, CO
Responsible Landscape Workshop and Private Design Sessions: Sponsored by the PAWSD; May 17-19, 2007; Pagosa Springs, CO
Water Resources and Conservation Workshop and Policy Session: Co-sponsored by the PAWSD; June 14-15, 2007; Pagosa Springs, CO
For more information and/or to register for any of these events, call the PAWSD office. In addition, contact the PAWSD office to request a speaker for your special meeting or organizational event.
Please contact the PAWSD office to report water waste.
CUSTOMER MIX:
The majority of the PAWSD customer accounts are residential. Their customer mix, in equivalent units (EUs), breaksdown as follows: 61percent single family, 15 percent multi-family, 21 percent commercial and one percent irrigation meters.
OUTSIDE WATER USE:
The average family in the West uses 54 percent of their water for outside irrigation. As illustrated in the PAWSD treated water production graph below, a substantial amount of water is treated and used in the peak summer months, mostly for outside watering purposes.
To learn more about how to save water outdoors visit:
In addition, the PAWSD has a plethora of outdoor water reduction measure information available at their office (100 Lyn Avenue).
INSIDE WATER USE:
Toilets:
Toilets represent the largest (nearly 30 percent) indoor water use.
Therefore, the PAWSD initiated their first toilet rebate program in the summer of 2004. The goal of the program is to reduce water use within the District by encouraging the replacement of [approximately] pre-1994 high-volume toilets that use more than 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf).
Thus-far, there have been a total of 202 toilet rebates issued. The average toilet replaced was 4.3 gpf, with 2.7 average gallons of water saved per capita. The average annual household water use reduction was over 39 percent.
Total water savings for the PAWSD and customers who have participated in the toilet rebate program is estimated at 5,500,000 gallons. Avoided cost savings to the District are over $43,000.
Based on the resounding success of the toilet rebate program, the PAWSD Board of Directors has authorized an indefinate extension of the toilet rebate program. Click on the following link for a 2008 toilet rebate program application:
After toilets, the second highest water user (about 20 percent) in the home is typically clothes washers.
Therefore, the PAWSD initiated their first high-efficiency clothes washer rebate program in 2007. The goal of the program is to reduce water use within the District by encouraging the replacement of [approximately] pre-1990 high-volume clothes washers that typically use more than 50 gallons per load (gpl).
There were a total on 35 rebates issued in 2007 totaling $4,375. Total water savings for the PAWSD and customers who participted in the first year washing machine rebate program is estimated at 245,000 gallons per year. Click on the following link for a 2008 high-efficiency clothes washer rebate application:
Understanding where and how much water we use is the first step in beginning to conserve one of our most precious resources. This simple home water checkup will allow you to understand your indoor water consumption. After calculating your water patterns, you can begin to conserve in ways that work best for your lifestyle.
Toilets:
Multiply the number of people in your household by four flushes; then multiply the result times 1.6, 3.5 or 5 gallons per flush (depending on the size of your toilet; contact the PAWSD office if you are unsure of your toilet size) to determine the amount of water used daily in your household for toilets.
# of people x 4 flushes/day x (1.6, 3.5 or 5) gallons/flush = gallons/day for flushing
Clothes Washers:
Multiply the number of loads of laundry washed each week times 55 gallons (or whatever your clothes washer water rating is) to determine gallons used per week. Divide the total by seven to determine daily consumption.
(# of loads/week x 55 gallons) divided by 7 = gallons/day for laundry
Showers:
Multiply the number of showers taken each day by members of your hosehold by the average number of minutes spent in the shower; then multiply the result by 4 gallons per minute (or whatever your showerhead water rating is) to determine water used for household showers each day.
# of showers x # of minutes x 4 gallons/minute = gallons/gay for showers
Baths:
Multiply the number of baths taken each day by 40 gallons to determine daily water used for baths.
# of baths x 40 gallons = gallons/day for baths
Faucets:
Total the number of times houshold members use faucets to shave, brush teeth, and wash hands and faces. Multiply that number by the average minutes used; then multiply the result times 3 gallons per minute (or whatever your faucet water rating is) for the number of gallons used daily through faucets.
# of uses x # of minutes x 3 gallons/minute = gallons/day for faucets
Dishwashers:
Multiply the number of times the dishwasher is used each week times 15 gallons per load (or whatever your dishwasher water rating is) for the amount of water used weekly by the dishwather. Divide that amount by seven for daily consumption.
(# of loads/week x 15 gallons) divided by 7 = gallons/day for dishwasher
Hand Washing Dishes:
Multiply the number of times dishes are washed by hand each day times 3 gallons per minute (or whatever your faucet water rating is); then multiply the result by the average number of minutes the water runs to determine daily water used for hand washing dishes.
# of loads/day x # of minutes x 3 gallons/minute = gallons/day for hand washing dishes
* Total the gallons used during each of these activities for your estimated daily indoor water consumption.
** Or you can contact the PAWSD office to schedule a complete home water audit.
BUSINESSES:
A new website made possible by northern Colorado water providers, engineers, and conservation non-profits aims to help businesses implement more effective long-term water conservation strategies. The online resource includes tools to help businesses estimate their water use, benchmarks to compare their usage to others in their industry, best management practices for conserving water resources and saving money, and additional resources to assist regional water providers and users with conservation initiatites.
RELATED ARTICLES:
The following articles (all links forthcoming; work-in-progress) may be useful to better understand the water situation in the PAWSD service territory, the West, nationally and to some extent globally (visit the Water Information Program website for more listings):
U.S. Geological Service: Information and project ideas, homework help, research tools, play time wizards, image wizards, downloadable goodies and more.
WATER CONSERVATION PLAN:
The PAWSD has a water conservation plan in-place (though it is currently being updated). To view the plan, click on the link below:
Please, do not dispose of your pharmaceuticals down the toilet! Did you know:
Thousands of tons of pharmaceuticals are used across the globe, and Americans alone fill over three billion prescriptions a year.
Many of these prescriptions end up in lakes, rivers and coastal waters via waste disposal.
Up to 90 percent of a drug is unchanged and still active when it leaves a patient's body.
Compounds are flushed down the toilet and transported to a sewage treatment plant. Because most plants do not remove pharmaceutical compounds in their treatment process, active chemicals are then discharged into local waterways.
Nursing homes, hospitals and consumers also flush unused drugs down the toilet, where they follow the same path to local waters.
As a result, our waterways are becoming a soup of hormones, antibiotics, painkillers and other drugs. Recent studies have found pharmaceuticals in waterways across the county, even in remote areas. There is uncertainty surrounding the effects pharmaceuticals are having on ecosystems and human health. There is alarming evidence, however, that antibiotics in sewage are creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is one of the foremost global health concerns, as it could turn once-curable diseases into dangerous killers.
As shown in the graph, the PAWSD has the capacity to meet the water demand needs within the District until about 2014. After that, demand is expected to outpace supply. The time to construct new storage facilities, however, is typically more than 20 years. 
