Water Conservation
From a letter dated April 22, 2003, below is the information regarding the 2003 Water Conservation Plan. If you have any questions regarding this plan, please contact us at 303-649-9857
The Board of Directors of the Inverness Water and Sanitation District (“District”) has adopted a Water Conservation Plan effective May 1, 2003, consistent with the plan communicated in our newsletters of May and August 2002. The plan focus is on reducing both in-building and irrigation use through an increasing block rate pricing structure. In addition, the plan provides for cash incentives for the installation of low water use landscape and installation of low flow fixtures. Below is a description of the plan.
Annual In-Building Allotment
Using the billing records of the District, the average historic consumption by use per 1000 square feet (office, office/warehouse, hotel, athletic club, etc.) was determined. Based on the building square footage and the occupancy, each building will receive, at the base pricing rate, an annual allotment of 80 percent of the historic average water supply. If your occupancy increases, please call us so that we may increase your water allotment. In-building use is assumed consistent during the year and hence the monthly base price allocation will be 1/12 of the annual allotment.
Annual Irrigation Allotment
Using the District’s maps, we have determined the irrigated acreage for each property within the District. Based on that average, each property will receive, at the base price, the volume equivalent of 24-inches of water for the irrigation season. The 24-inches of irrigation has been determined by turf experts as the minimum amount required for healthy turf, and is consistent with historic usage on the Inverness Golf Course.
Please note that with the irrigation pricing allotment system, there are no restrictions on the days on which properties can be irrigated. However, if peak irrigation demands are such that excessive pumping of our wells is required to meet the demand, the District may implement a watering schedule by address later in the season.
The irrigation base price allotment will be distributed throughout the irrigation season from April through October based upon historical averages.
Increasing Block Rate Structure
Water charges will be priced based upon the total of in-building and irrigation usage according to the following rates. These rates are designed to encourage customers to reduce usage by penalizing usage severely when pricing allotments are exceeded.
“Water Conserving Rate” - $2.25 per 1000 gallons for consumption up to the property’s annual allotment
“Excessive Rate” - $4.50 per 1000 gallons for consumption between 100% and 150% of the property’s annual allotment.
“Abusive Rate” - $6.75 per 1000 gallons for consumption above 150% of the property’s annual allotment.
Billing for water and sanitary sewer services are sent out on a monthly basis to keep property owners better notified of water use and charges.
Cash Incentives for the removal of turf and installation of low flow fixtures
The District will offer a rebate of $1 per square foot of sod that is removed and replaced with an Inverness Planning and Architectural Control Committee approved low water use landscape (such as shrubbery with drip irrigation). In addition, the District will provide a rebate of 50 percent of the fixture cost on allow flow fixtures that are installed. Rebate programs are offered on a first come first serve basis. The maximum rebate to any one property is $10,000 in any year.