Water Conservation

Water Quantity

Colorado is now in the worst drought since 1977, and as drought conditions worsen throughout the state, water conservation efforts are becoming increasingly important. Current precipitation deficits are on the order of 1year worth of precipitation, and this deficit has developed over the past three years.Making up the current water supply deficit in the next 1-2 years is unlikely, as it usually takes several years to recover from droughts of the magnitude of the current year.

Ground water is water found beneath the earth’s surface, and its supplies are replenished by rain and snow melt.Not all rainfall recharges groundwater.Light rainfall is likely to be evaporated from soils or used by plants before it soaks deep into the ground.Of the 5,000,000 acre-feet of water that falls on the Denver Basin each year, only 40,000 acre-feet recharges the bedrock aquifers that make up the basin.The remainder of the water is lost to evaporation, surface runoff or plant use.The great depth to water and the prevalent shale layers in the bedrock aquifer make it difficult for surface waters to affect water levels in these aquifers

Well pumping has lowered the water level in parts of the bedrock aquifer.And computer models indicate that very large water level declines are possible if pumping continues to increase.It is not possible to predict the exact water level decline due to uncertainty in the rate of future pumping.However this illustrates the importance of protecting our groundwater supply as the population of the county continues to increase.We can easily protect the groundwater supply by simply reducing the amount of water that we use.  Following are some simple water saving tips:

Water Saving Tips Install low water use plumbing fixtures such as low flow showerheads and 1.6 gallons per flush toilets. Repair leaking faucets, showerheads and toilets.You can check for leaks in your toilet by putting food coloring in the tank. If it seeps into the toilet bowl you’ve got a leak. Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth. Avoid running the water to get a cold drink of water.  Store a pitcher of water in the refrigerator. Install faucet aerators. Sweep floors, sidewalks and driveways instead of using a hose. Mow your lawn less often, or mow it on a higher setting, keeping it longer reduces loss of water due to evaporation. Run washing machines and dishwashers only with full loads. Use mulch around flowers and shrubs to reduce water loss. Water outdoors in the early morning or evening hours when evaporation is less likely. Plant drought tolerant plants and shrubs.  Repairing leaking fixtures and eliminating excessive use of water will help to preserve your septic system as well as conserve water.In fact, leaking plumbing fixtures and excessive water use are among the most common causes of septic system failure.