Growing Flowers, Growing Impact: What We Learned Producing Denver Water's Conservation Video Series

Water-wise plants like these flowers can beautify your yard and cut your water bill.

Conservation has always been a core value for Denver Water. Its ubiquitous and award-winning, “Use Only What You Need” campaign netted tangible results – Denver Water saw a 20% reduction in water use despite the area’s population rising in the same timeframe.

While the marketing campaign was a huge success – think giant running toilets – Denver Water expanded its conservation messaging and changed the tone of it in a way that got their customers more involved.

In 2024, Legacy Mediaworks partnered with the utility in producing a series of videos that stopped asking, and started teaching its customers on how to get rid of their thirsty Kentucky bluegrass and create a water-wise garden. 

A whole series of conservation videos with landscaping tips can be easily found on Denver Water's YouTube page.

Denver Water enlisted help from its partners – such as CSU Extension, Plant Select and The Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, to show homeowners that what might first appear to be a colossal yard renovation project, can be achievable with a little planning, sweat and a few weekends' time.

They were so persuasive with their message that it nudged me to do a little bit more to conserve more water. I converted part of my spray-head irrigation system into drip irrigation for my raised beds and perennials, I planted more water-wise plants, and am making plans to get rid of even more of my lawn.

Many videos have step-by-step instructions on how to tackle what seem like impossible projects into doable DIY weekend chores.

As summer winds down I am proud of the work my talented team completed in producing nine new videos for the series. I believe we truly grew as storytellers with this series. It led to us to maybe not fully revamping our production process, but definitely auditing it. We streamlined it in areas to save time and built in some internal redundancy so nothing would get overlooked. 

A blooming salvia I planted in my yard to add water-wise and pollinator-friendly plants and cut down on my lawn.

I've chosen to stay largely hands-on with Legacy Mediaworks as we continue to grow – not because I'm a control freak, but because this work is something I'm genuinely passionate about. The connections we make, from brainstorming sessions with our repeat clients like Denver Water, to those brief but meaningful conversations with people from all walks of life we've interviewed over the years, feel truly special. 

Each person we meet brings their own story, their own expertise, and life story that enriches our understanding of the communities we work in. The former journalist in me refuses to go away.

When the work day can feel lugubrious, I find motivation by remembering;  It's not just about creating videos – it's about amplifying voices, sharing solutions, and hopefully inspiring others.

Looking ahead, we're excited to continue this partnership and keep telling stories that matter. After all, the best projects aren't just the ones that look good in our portfolio – they're the ones that make a real difference.