Last winter’s deep snows, combined with cool weather throughout the spring, helped Denver Water ensure its reservoirs would fill to 100% of capacity this year.
Denver Water relies on melting snow to provide a clean, safe and reliable drinking water supply to 1.5 million people in the city and surrounding suburbs.
Now it’s time to conserve what Mother Nature has given, as no one knows for sure what the rest of the year and next winter will bring. Weather patterns change year to year and climate change is expected to create more uncertainty in weather patterns in the future.
That’s one reason Denver Water is working to expand Gross Reservoir. An expanded reservoir means more water can be captured in years when water is more plentiful to ensure a reliable supply during drier times.
There are things you can do to be more efficient with the water you use indoors and out. Now is a great time to act, as watering during the hot days of summer frequently leads to higher monthly water bills.
You should continually check your sprinkler system to make sure it’s running efficiently, with no leaks or breaks. Denver Water also offers rebates for highly efficient sprinkler nozzles and smart watering controllers that carry the WaterSense label.
Dripping faucets or running toilets also waste water and over time can contribute to a bigger water bill.
Denver Water also offers rebates for WaterSense-labeled toilets that average 1.1 gallons per flush or less.
And Denver Water is doing its part by planning for the future through projects that will help ensure a reliable water system, much like those who came before us built the system we rely on today.