Golden, CO
Laundry to Landscape Ordinance Converts Wastewater into Sustainable Assets Our Approach Project OutcomesProject Goal
The City of Golden, nestled at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, offers beautiful mountain views and open spaces. Like much of the Front Range, it has a semi-arid climate and faces the challenges of meeting water demands against the pressure of a growing population and ongoing drought conditions. Serving about 20,000 people across 9.7 square miles, Golden is aiming for a 15% reduction in per capita water use by 2030 and improved drought resilience, as part of its multi-faceted Sustainability Strategic Plan.
Our Approach
WaterNow Alliance and Western Resource Advocates (WRA) partnered with the City of Golden to develop Colorado’s first graywater laundry-to-landscape (L2L) ordinance, aimed at reducing water usage by allowing laundry water to irrigate non-edible plants on single-family residential properties. To draft the ordinance, the team researched existing graywater programs and Colorado regulations. They also interviewed water agencies in Colorado, Arizona, and California that implemented similar programs to gain insights from their experiences. After gathering and incorporating feedback from local stakeholders, the team refined the language before presenting the final version to City Council. WaterNow and WRA also created educational materials to raise awareness about the ordinance and promote L2L system installation.
Outcomes
In September 2020, the City of Golden approved Ordinance 2143, becoming the first ordinance in Colorado to allow water from laundry machines and laundry room sinks to water non-edible outdoor plants, transforming wastewater into a valuable commodity. At a 5% adoption rate among single-family homeowners, the Ordinance 2143 would save approximately 514,000 gallons (1.6 acre-feet) annually.
