The future water needs of the growing Denver metropolitan area probably could be met by cutting down on the bluegrass in new developments, plugging water system leaks and charging more for water, a study has concluded.
Western Resource Advocates of Boulder analyzed water use and prices in 13 southwestern cities, including Denver, Aurora and Highlands Ranch, for two years.
At a minimum, cities should act to reduce significantly the water used on laws, said Bart Miller, a water specialist at the Boulder think tank.
“Every city should focus on reducing outside water use because it’s where the largest volume of water is used,” Miller said.
In metro Denver, about 54 percent of all water is used to keep lawns green, Miller said.
After the drought hit Colorado in the summer of 2002, several Front Range cities acted to limit summer lawn watering to two or three days per week. Surcharges for higher water use also were applied.
But as the drought eased, cities lifted lawn watering restrictions and removed surcharges.
Miller said those limits, and surcharges, should be permanent in order to save the most water.
In comparison to other cities, metro Denver is about average in terms of year-round use, with residents using about 159 gallons per day. Las Vegas residents use about 230 gallons per day while Tucson residents use 107 gallons and El Paso homeowners use 122 gallons daily.
The report recommends several water-saving measures state lawmakers and cities could take to reduce water usage, including lawn-rebate programs to encourage use of drought-tolerant plants and grasses and allowing summer lawn watering only during early morning and evening hours.
It also recommends charging more for higher usage.
“Our city recognizes the need for more conservation,” said Melissa Elliott, spokeswoman for Aurora. “But we don't think that could ever be enough to meet the total demand for water.”
Source: Associated Press