Sustainability Efforts at the Denver Zoo
LEED Platinum • Water Conservation • Alternative Transportation • Zero Waste • Local Food • Energy Conservation
Water Conservation
Denver Zoo is located in a semi-arid climate, making water conservation and reuse a major opportunity for the zoo. To minimize our water usage, Denver Zoo focuses on behavioral changes and innovative applications to dramatically reduce our consumption, while maintaining high quality for our exhibits. From 1999 to 2011, water reduction strategies have equated to a monetary savings of almost $1 million (based on average combined annual price). Denver Zoo has implemented several water conservation projects over the last 10 years including xeriscaping, renovations to the water filtration systems at Sea Lions, construction of a water quality wetland and recirculation system at the Flamingo Pond, low-flow water fixtures in restrooms and now with the opening of Toyota Elephant Passage, a major filtration and reuse system.
These individual projects have resulted in major water savings. Changing the filtration configuration in the Sea Lion pools in 2012 resulted in a savings of 4,368,000 gallons of water a year.
Water Conservation
FACTS
> 50% decrease in water use since 1999
1 million: gallons of water saved through water-wise landscaping & irrigation controls
25: number of acres covered by stormwater treatment for 100 year storm
Reuse Water Customer of the Year award 2011, for innovated reuse water design and application |
Water-wise landscaping and irrigation at the zoo saves one million gallons of water a year. The 2006 updates to Flamingo Pond saved one million gallons of water a year and installation of low-flow fixtures in our restrooms have resulted in an eighty percent reduction in restroom water use. Collectively, these projects have saved the zoo over 10 million gallons of water a year. These projects, as well as operational changes, have reduced overall annual water usage from approximately 340 million gallons to approximately 170 million gallons from 2009 to 2011.
Beginning in 2003, Denver Zoo added new water lines which incorporate reuse water for horticulture and exhibit maintenance. In our most recent exhibit, Toyota Elephant Passage, reuse water is incorporated throughout the 10 acre site and provides 80 percent of the 1.1 million gallons of water throughout the exhibit's five pools. Recycled water will continue to be utilized as existing exhibits are revitalized. Our goal is to meet 75 percent of our potable demands with recycled water.
Download Water Conservation Flyer (pdf) |
