The Acumen - February 2024

providers and experts in water use and landscapes — to develop programs that will help transform our landscapes and expand our indoor and outdoor conservation efforts. The utility also started work transforming its own landscapes, including about 13,000 square feet around its Einfeldt pump station near the University of Denver. The area, formerly filled with useless Kentucky bluegrass that was only visited when it was mowed, is being transformed into a diverse ColoradoScape. The new landscape incorporates water-wise plants, prairie grasses and cooling shade trees that will offer rich habitats for birds, pollinators and wildlife that live in the metro area. The work is being done with help from a Transformative Landscape Change Challenge grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and working with Boulder nonprofit Resource Central. Once the plants are established, Denver Water expects to reduce water use at the site by nearly 183,000 gallons of water a year. The project is an example of how Denver Water is planning for a warmer, drier future by partnering with our community to build a system and a landscape that supports our customers and encourages them to thrive now and in the future.

committed to substantially expanding existing efforts to conserve water. Among the goals outlined in the agreement is the replacement of 30% of the nonfunctional, water-intensive Kentucky bluegrass in our communities — like the decorative expanses of turf grass in traffic medians — with more natural ColoradoScapes that include water-wise plants and trees that offer more benefits for our climate, wildlife and the environment. Denver Water works year round to maintain the water system and works with customers affected by our projects. (Photo: Denver Water)

Denver Water is working with partners — including local governments, fellow water

Video: How does Denver Water

replace lead service lines.

28 The Acumen

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