[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5982216,"mediaKeyId","5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1","parentId",5775512,"title","Water board recommends city opt out of graywater program, cites cost and public‑health concerns","audioSeconds",261,"startMs",523000,"endMs",784000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1&start=523&end=784","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1/thumbnail_523000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5982216/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Water-board-recommends-city-opt-out-of-graywater-program-cites-cost-and-publichealth-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982216-6f85ff48bdd6e60978b8b49bc5a71b9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507738&Signature=lZJ2Xgv9GYQaA30r191lbmwWaSY9ISOW69Fa35EWM4CgbY3ECm7jS8RGZBjLIpCtBzMsOACOuaCMc3oGSZc2Wemt1W7Qq51vpEZ-L-18uyyRMUyEoA4iHyc73EbBLfSON~r~prgso~y3SCXneqSAJ3jjBHzwlcq7Hb-rDDmKzz-k4B9PS8bM2srbQ78qx7VrHwsXLY4thIprA2-0FglFEnrVwhNS16VC1moI0fSw8ef4oYpZaH1A3mU9-898GKsbZ9nGN0cY8Rk9aAl3dH90bb6NBcC3JqjfWUbBtRXa0uTC-5sl0ylIa~WgnWY0~DLvuVIgqFVX~4-k1t4uS6bmCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boulder City, CO","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Water Resources Advisory Board recommended on Sept. 15 that the City Council adopt plumbing‑code language to opt the city out of establishing a local graywater regulatory program required by a new state law.

City staff said the change is required by a 2024 state law (identified in staff materials as “house bill 24 13 62”) that takes effect Jan. 1, 2026, and that local action is needed to avoid automatic allowance of graywater without a local regulatory framework. Crystal Mori, senior water resources engineer, told the board that \"free water reuse is taking water from showers, bathrooms, sinks, and laundry machines, and reusing it in toilets or for underground irrigation on the same property.\" She said staff recommended opting out now because establishing and running a local graywater program would require new administrative, review, inspection and enforcement resources.

Why it matters: Staff estimated graywater could save up to 1% of citywide water demand if broadly adopted, but said actual homeowner and developer uptake has been low in other jurisdictions and in past trials. The board and staff said a local program would require plan review, inspections, backflow prevention, ongoing maintenance checks and tracking that the city currently lacks capacity to provide.

Board discussion and public comment focused on public‑health risks and on whether the proposed code would bar small, informal practices during droughts. Mark McIntyre, chair of the Planning Board, urged staff to consider unintended consequences for informal emergency uses — telling the board, \"The way I read the code, this would be explicitly prohibited.\" Staff and the city attorney’s office said the draft code defines graywater as wastewater and would not apply to a resident temporarily capturing the warmup water from a shower in a bucket; staff said they would re‑review the proposed wording for clarity.

Staff noted a prior University of Colorado pilot was allowed under a research exemption, ran for a few years and was later discontinued because maintenance and research interest declined. Mori said the state’s change essentially flips a prior opt‑in approach (dating to the 2013 law) to an opt‑out, leaving Colorado cities to choose whether to create a local control program or to explicitly prohibit installation of graywater systems.

The board’s motion — recorded in the meeting as: \"The Water Resources Advisory Board recommends that the City Council adopt the proposed graywater code changes in substantially the same form as Attachment A\" — was moved, seconded and approved by the members present. Staff said the ordinance will go to City Council for first and second readings on Oct. 16 and Nov. 6, and that the state deadline for action is Jan. 1, 2026.

Staff emphasized the recommendation is not a permanent rejection of graywater: if future demand or technology changes, the city could revisit establishing a regulatory program. Several board members said they were open to future reconsideration if uptake or rebates make the strategy practical.

Ending: The board forwarded its recommendation to Council; Council consideration and the ordinance’s adoption schedule were outlined by staff. City staff proposed to return to boards with additional information if community interest or pilot programs change uptake expectations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9-14-25 Water Resources Advisory Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Water Resources Advisory Board recommended on Sept. 15 that the City Council adopt plumbing‑code language to opt the city out of establishing a local graywater regulatory program required by a new state law.","taxTitle","Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado","taxId",3386,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5982202,"Resident: rising water bills and rapid development risk burdening long‑time, fixed‑income households",201,185000,386000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1&start=185&end=386","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1/thumbnail_185000.jpg","/articles/5982202/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Resident-rising-water-bills-and-rapid-development-risk-burdening-longtime-fixedincome-households","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982202-b5f283f0bbf47be7a46949efb685697a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507738&Signature=jt1075MVfjeLj3NNyO4NQV7cN7GqSxc-r3PenDUjJlGidaBTNxHkUwA12hdv5h57Ewi946Qj8tLESvdSKGYzsBwsT79iaV03gAD23RlpyVjaKka2t18iyVSduaiRy6UDc6u7sEDh5MhaQtn6xkdiwQIBOrjYwFpoDWyHJUYxMwIb1UUsKq0LDwNcCdYhfEQTpho1fxbe7annIY3V0pMMkbB0GyEEAsZmQEn3mAbxrXRtS6va9oMINBrmKJjetyE7ajOtV~1xegpoTcSRrRfv3MjpOkes9uDatrpp-qubSmaJs9iN4Wt1ntdpmtr5rea5H9xz7WUIAmv1vaCbrGi~Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public‑comment period of the Sept. 15 meeting, Lynn Siegel of the community spoke to the board about rising water bills and local development.

Siegel said her monthly bill \"has never been as high as 107. It's never gone up. It's been at 97 or something. Like, this is just really unacceptable\" and added that she is 72 and on a fixed income. She voiced concern that regional growth and projects she named — including Sundance, Area 3 planning and CU South — will increase water demand and infrastructure costs. Siegel told the board she wants developers to pay their share of infrastructure through impact fees: \"Impact fees is what we really really need.\"

Staff and board members did not take formal action in response to the public comment; the board proceeded to the public hearing on the graywater code changes and other agenda items.

Ending: Siegel’s remarks were recorded during the meeting’s public‑comment period and were acknowledged by the meeting moderator.","During public comment on Sept. 15, resident Lynn Siegel said her monthly water bill rose from about $97 to $107 and urged the city to require developers to pay impact fees to cover water infrastructure costs; she said she is on a fixed income and related broader concerns about affordability.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5982207,"Planning staff seek board input on Boulder Valley comprehensive plan update and implications for utilities",680,3473000,4153000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1&start=3473&end=4153","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1/thumbnail_3473000.jpg","/articles/5982207/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Planning-staff-seek-board-input-on-Boulder-Valley-comprehensive-plan-update-and-implications-for-utilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982207-a67b118e1cd972f0e89a8321c1fb9fba/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507738&Signature=oES3vgy45dV8tb9zRckUPrSO9wB1labHgy1M3wOCBqLnaviBaQkrYkPSB~E-kiRlR0LpSecBKVaD1jl~tNKgROnp72WMCVoQrFitOcCENHK-L74nKfssHcfbZP2RDTFqgSWLjmRqub183zY3FXXw9BJ29eLxFKc4Yw32u1W9aMVEIyg6KXvu8wgyPPXIC9ZMLdKj2t2S0WhboHiupBy3NUCL0I89am8yKXgTjWieP1BP0Ow7uNCoYLK9mxm7B2qObX2y0jHixZI32pVaarU3sS9tQlgIW1FitN0uLnBwA6SRZ87k4-RutoTjlRxAjnhPfVswOhr90vKQUsGhHCp~ig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff on Sept. 15 briefed the Water Resources Advisory Board on a major, multi‑year update to the Boulder Valley comprehensive plan and asked the board which policy areas related to utilities the board would like staff to study in more detail.

Sarah Horn, senior planner, described the update as the city’s 50‑year review and said the process includes four phases: current conditions (“Boulder today”), community engagement (“Boulder tomorrow”), policy choices and land‑use direction (current phase), and drafting and adoption (winter–spring with final adoption expected next year). Horn said outreach has included interactive theaters, a community assembly and a statistically valid survey; staff said invitations to the survey were being mailed and an online survey would go live Sept. 22.

Kathleen King, principal city planner, said staff are consolidating and simplifying the comp plan’s roughly 210 policies to remove duplication and improve clarity. Planning staff told the board that topics of interest to utilities include growth projections and timing of service extensions, annexation and urban services provisions, floodplain and stormwater planning, and water and wastewater policy.

Why it matters: The comprehensive plan sets long‑range growth and land‑use assumptions that utility planners use to size capital projects and to schedule infrastructure investments. Staff and utility managers in the meeting noted that growth timing, density and location affect whether pipes, treatment and storm infrastructure must be upsized now or later and who pays for incremental capacity.

Staff outlined near‑term milestones: mailed invitations to a statistically valid survey (date of meeting), online survey live Sept. 22, a joint study session with City Council planned for Dec. 11, a draft plan to boards in March and an adoption/approval process next spring and summer that includes City Council, Planning Board, Boulder County Board of County Commissioners and the County Planning Commission.

Board members expressed interest in climate impacts on utilities, flood and high‑hazard events, cost allocation for infrastructure and how Boulder coordinates regionally. Staff said they would bring more detailed analysis and proposed policy language back to the board in coming months.

Ending: Planning staff asked the board to identify the policy areas it wanted to explore further; staff will follow up with targeted briefings and incorporate board input into draft policies for public review.","City planning staff briefed the Water Resources Advisory Board on the major update to the Boulder Valley comprehensive plan, including timeline, outreach and the plan’s role in guiding growth projections, utilities, floodplain management and resilience; staff asked boards for topic priorities for follow‑up.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5982211,"City advances water‑wise landscaping code updates to reflect state turf law and conservation goals",619,2256000,2875000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1&start=2256&end=2875","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775512-32e933d8037288a2dfca533f5dc1cfc1/thumbnail_2256000.jpg","/articles/5982211/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/City-advances-waterwise-landscaping-code-updates-to-reflect-state-turf-law-and-conservation-goals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5982211-bf4216cd46830a6ea7e880ecca87fe74/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507738&Signature=h8DheX1PuUTghIvwvvNVU9py940hRyRqto6HnGSvJOMbLj8WGRNkGbJsDMSpurAFOLi-Gwb0u63CW42sueSCuH62b3iS98Pgy6Aml4EygENvj629~6R2aogouJEs6Xk~6hpnFkixOqCLeG3QBuqPR4dEfpphOY5N2j5fAwDbKy-NLYhKFOaynDzPI6TM9mCEKAh~oItenrUlWxcYrXmj1FGoJDDxfG7wD3YYHrddbjQpWSH0t74aL4uQdUYKb62Q-Nq31iCPNC8Qexe08QyFDaFUuPC5Zn9qKy21d1NIxwU4hqKJv6IzULQRIuL9jQrMOeTRMqboECi5DpH-rGAa0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning and utilities staff presented proposed updates to the city’s landscape policy and code on Sept. 15, describing a package of changes intended to implement recent state requirements on turf and modernize technical guidance.

Charles Ferro, senior planning manager in Planning and Development Services, said the proposed ordinance is primarily intended to comply with a state bill that prohibits installation of “nonfunctional turf” in new development and in many redevelopment contexts. Ferro said the state language applies to street rights‑of‑way, parking lot medians, commercial, industrial and institutional land uses and common interest (HOA) areas; functional turf — for example playgrounds, sports fields and active playing areas — would still be permitted. The proposed code would also apply to residential development greater than 12 units.

Ferro said the draft ordinance establishes a separate landscape manual and an updated plant and tree list (Attachment C in the materials) so technical specifications can be updated administratively rather than by code change. He said planning staff plan to carry the most technical specifications into the manual while keeping the code focused on policy. The manual will contain guidance on soil amendments, mulch standards, irrigation and other specifications.

On watering restrictions, staff proposed a daytime watering prohibition from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation; Ferro told the board that the recommendation is to \"preclude people from watering between the hours of 10AM and 6PM.\" Enforcement would be complaint‑driven at present, staff said.

Why it matters: The changes are part of the city’s 2024–25 priorities and are intended to advance water conservation, wildfire hardening and urban‑heat mitigation while complying with the state deadline to bring local regulations into alignment by Jan. 1, 2026. Planning staff said they would focus the current ordinance on the statutory requirements and pursue additional future code changes related to temporary irrigation, water‑efficiency standards and other refinements.

Board members asked about the process for maintaining the plant list, and Ferro said the city manager would have administrative authority to keep the list current; staff said they would use internal subject‑matter teams to vet any changes. Planning staff said earlier proposals to require a licensed landscape architect for all plans were rejected by planning board and council.

No formal action was requested of the Water Resources Advisory Board; staff said the package is moving toward City Council consideration in October. Staff asked the board for feedback to carry forward.","Planning staff briefed the Water Resources Advisory Board on proposed code changes to update the city’s landscape regulations, align with a state ban on nonfunctional turf in many settings, create a technical landscape manual and revise plant lists; no formal board action was required.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Water board recommends city opt out of graywater program, cites cost and public‑health concerns

Resident: rising water bills and rapid development risk burdening long‑time, fixed‑income households

Planning staff seek board input on Boulder Valley comprehensive plan update and implications for utilities

City advances water‑wise landscaping code updates to reflect state turf law and conservation goals