Veva Deheza--"The carrot approach"
Colorado does not have the same level of planning for water conservation as other states in the West. Utah, for example, has mandated conservation goals for municipalities, while Phoenix has directives to reduce the number of gallons consumed per capita. Although the CWCB has required conservation planning since 1991, of the 100+ state compulsory conservation plans, the CWCB only has about one-third (30) approved and on file. While the state’s largest cities (e.g., 
Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs) have adopted water conservation plans, most Colorado communities have not shared their intentions with the CWCB. And the plans that are in place look at mostly voluntary measures for residential users only and could be more aggressive. According to Veva Deheza, CWCB’s Section Chief for Conservation and Drought Planning, “Colorado’s ‘carrot approach’ to conservation planning could be more robust with more enforcement.”
The Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) report projected total water demands in Colorado at 1.7 million acre-feet by the year 2030, which equates to a shortfall of 18 percent to meet municipal needs. Conservation measures already in place should shave 200,000 acre-feet, or 11 percent, off the projected needs by 2030. The potential of realizing up to 40 percent savings could go a long way toward meeting even greater demands by 2050, when the state’s population is expected to double its current size, Deheza said. Conservation alone can’t meet the entire gap, but would reduce the need for transfers from agriculture to municipal uses. According to Deheza, “Colorado could do a lot more with water conservation planning efforts to meet water supply needs in 2050.”
Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs) have adopted water conservation plans, most Colorado communities have not shared their intentions with the CWCB. And the plans that are in place look at mostly voluntary measures for residential users only and could be more aggressive. According to Veva Deheza, CWCB’s Section Chief for Conservation and Drought Planning, “Colorado’s ‘carrot approach’ to conservation planning could be more robust with more enforcement.”The Statewide Water Supply Initiative (SWSI) report projected total water demands in Colorado at 1.7 million acre-feet by the year 2030, which equates to a shortfall of 18 percent to meet municipal needs. Conservation measures already in place should shave 200,000 acre-feet, or 11 percent, off the projected needs by 2030. The potential of realizing up to 40 percent savings could go a long way toward meeting even greater demands by 2050, when the state’s population is expected to double its current size, Deheza said. Conservation alone can’t meet the entire gap, but would reduce the need for transfers from agriculture to municipal uses. According to Deheza, “Colorado could do a lot more with water conservation planning efforts to meet water supply needs in 2050.”
