Utilities plans audit to see if there's more water for parks

After catching a lot of heat last month from city officials, Colorado Springs Utilities rolled out a second proposal Wednesday to help keep parks cooler — and greener — this summer.

The city-owned utility says it’s going to spend up to $500,000 to conduct an audit that will help officials in the parks department figure  out how to efficiently use every drop of water that’s poured onto the city’s 137 parks, trails and medians.

That means utility crews and landscape specialists will analyze the time of day that parks are watered, figure out where drought-resistant shrubs and flowers can be planted, install rain sensors and soil sensors, and possibly replace sprinkler heads and other irrigation equipment, said Bruce McCormick, Utilities’ chief water services officer.

“It will be a huge help,” said Paul Butcher, director of the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department.

By watering the parks more efficiently, the department would be able to stretch the $1.7 million that’s been allocated for the entire system, Butcher said. “People are going to see greener parks,” he said.

The proposal, which unveiled at the Utilities board’s monthly meeting, was received enthusiastically by members of the City Council, which acts as the governing board for Utilities.

“I’m happy,” Vice Mayor Larry Small said. “I wanted to see a full solution, not just a partial solution, to the problem.”

Last month, the mood was far less convivial when  Utilities rolled out  a new “water conservation rate” for large irrigators such as the Parks Department.

 Under that rate, which still has to go to a public hearing and be approved by the City Council, the department’s water bill would be lower if it used 80 percent or less of its budgeted amount of water. However, if it used 21 percent more than what is allocated, the price would go up.

Councilman Tom Gallagher said he was glad that Utilities is offering more help. “I just couldn’t explain this problem to people when they know we own the water rights, the parks and the utility company.”

Mayor Lionel Rivera pointed out that greener parks would boost Utilities’ bottom line. Well-maintained parks make the city more attractive to businesses, he said. And more businesses mean more customers for Utilities, he added.
Councilwoman Jan Martin said efficient irrigation systems would help the parks this summer, and in the long term, “It’s good for Utilities and it’s good for the community.”
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