Jan. 21, 2025

Northern Water Employs Dual Water Use System to Increase Campus Sustainability

Sustainably irrigating a 35-acre campus can come with challenges. While selecting the appropriate landscapes can assist, Northern Water implemented a dual water use system when the Berthoud campus opened in 2003 that is gaining popularity throughout the region.  

Dual water use systems utilize two different water sources for irrigation: raw or reclaimed water and domestic water. If raw or reclaimed water is not available, the domestic water source is connected to the system and serves as either supplemental water or a backup solution.  

Water Efficiency Specialist Spencer Bernard said irrigating with raw water can be more energy efficient than treated water alone. “Bypassing domestic water treatment saves money and energy,” he said. “It also relieves the load on municipal infrastructure because it requires storing and pumping water on site.”  

Aeriel view of water retention pond at Northern Water Berthoud Headquarters

Northern Water stores its raw water in an on-campus pond. This pond and accompanying pump house service most of the campus and about half of the Conservation Gardens. Water-wise landscapes were recently installed as campus development efforts concluded, resulting in the pump replacement last fall to support the additional landscapes.  Domestic water is used in the more delicate areas on campus that require drip irrigation. 

Bernard said that raw water is best used for overhead irrigation. It contains more sediments than treated water, so it can clog small emitters in drip irrigation systems. For the same reason, supplementing with raw water also requires more frequent equipment maintenance. 

Local municipalities Greeley and Superior have also seen success implementing raw water irrigation for their campuses. Due to the need for additional infrastructure, raw water irrigation typically works best on large landscapes, however, there are options for homeowners and small businesses to supplement with raw water. Common methods include rainwater (or snow) capture and greywater (water from sinks, laundry, etc.) recycling.  

State and local regulations govern raw water collection and use, so it is important to research current laws before attempting to collect rainwater or recycle greywater for irrigation.