Castle Rock

The Town of Castle Rock is located south of the Denver Metro area in a semi-arid, high-desert climate with more than 300 days of sunshine and receives 10 to 15 inches of precipitation each year. Due to its semi-arid, high-desert climate, the Town is prone to droughts, especially during the peak irrigation season of July through September. Compounding this challenge, by the year 2055, Castle Rock’s population has the potential to double in size, increasing water demand by approximately 84 percent over the 2020 demand, for an estimated future total annual demand of approximately 16,995 acre-feet. To help meet these challenges, Castle Rock is embracing water use efficiency as a way of life. The Town’s aggressive water efficiency measures are aimed at reducing future demands by 18%, or 2,700 acre-feet, by around 2050-2055.

Project at a Glance

Utility Overview

Utility: Castle Rock Water
Location: Castle Rock, CO
Population served: 75,857
Service area: 34 square miles

Challenges

Major reliance on deep water groundwater supply, such as deep aquifers, which have a very slow rate of recharge
Drought prone
Rapidly growing population
Need to reduce peak demand

Solution

An aggressive water efficiency program, including cost-of-service water budget rate structures, mandates and incentives, and community education, that will reduce future demands by 18%, or 2,700 acre-feet, by around 2050-2055.

Program costs and funding sources

Water Rebates Budget (2018-2021): $145,000
Sources:
- Fees collected from water schedule violations
- Surcharges imposed on residential customers using more than 40,000 gallons of water / month