Jon Klassen wants people to think about their toilet, shower, washing machine, the yard sprinklers and everywhere else water flows - in a very conservative way.

Klassen has been water conservation coordinator for the Centennial Water and Sanitation District, 62 W. Plaza Drive, serving Highlands Ranch, since November 2006. The district provides water and wastewater services for the Highlands Ranch Metropolitan District, about 27,000 single-family homes and 4,000 commercial hookups. His role is to educate and help people conserve water.

Klassen has a natural resource management degree, and a background in landscaping and the irrigation business.

"I was able to take my technical background and experience from my previous position, tie in some of my degree work and move forward and help with the water situation here in Colorado."

Last year, Klassen notes, Highlands Ranch was 100 percent supplied by surface water from the recently dedicated South Platte Reservoir, just north of Chatfield Reservoir. Meaning no groundwater was used.

"My message is regardless of the water supply status, we need to be doing the best we can to use our water wisely, no matter what the conditions are, "he said.

He is focused a lot on outdoor irrigation right now, where much of the waste comes from.

Among district programs is one called Slow the Flow. Irrigation auditors do free audits for residents and some businesses. Their inspection involves assessing the irrigation system's efficiency, factoring in landscape, soil types, and other factors. Customers then can use the day-of report to fix inefficiencies and develop a proper watering schedule.

"The idea with efficient irrigation is to match the ET's (evapotranspiration) rates with the amount of watering you're putting down with your sprinkler system," he said.

Other areas along the Front Range have seen use reductions of as much as 20 to 25 percent with similar audits.

Klassen, who lives in Highlands Ranch with his wife, Trina, hosts a program at the Highlands Ranch Library called Lunch and Learn - addressing staying within a water budget, managing sprinkler controls, landscape issues and more. The next session is July 3 at noon.

The district offers customers a conservation kit with things like a shower timer, rain gauge, toilet leak detection tablets, and literature on reading a water meter, watering tips and more.

The district's water budget implemented in 2003 was the first in Colorado, and gives each customer a goal or budget based on indoor and outdoor water usage by lot size, green areas and other factors. Rates increase as usage goes over the budget increments, from $2.30 per thousand gallons to more than $7 for customers who are over 140 percent of their budget.

"We figure that's saved 20 percent of our water," Klassen says, based on pre-2003 use levels.

Another satisfying part of the job, Klassen said, besides reducing overall consumption, is the public thanks - when someone says 'what you told me worked very well I've seen a decrease in my water use.'

To learn more about the district's education resources, visit www.highlandsranch.org or call 303-791-0430.