Water Sense
Colorado
Water Fact Sheet
Just as Colorado's topography varies from the tower-
ing Rocky Mountains in the west to the flat
Eastern Plains, freshwater resources in Colorado
fluctuate depending on location and elevation.
Despite relatively abundant precipitation in the
mountains of Colorado, most of the state is semi-arid
and heavily dependent on annual snowmelt and runoff
from the mountains to the plains, where a majority of the population
resides and most of the state's water is used.
In the mountains, headwaters, small creeks, and
tributaries form from snowmelt, precipitation,
and groundwater discharge. Because no major
rivers flow into Colorado, the state relies almost
completely on precipitation to replenish its
freshwater resources. The Rocky Mountain states
obtain 70 to 90 percent of their water from
snowmelt, so a dry winter can mean drought in
the summer.
The annual precipitation in Colorado averages
only 17 inches statewide and is highly variable,
with the San Luis Valley in south-central
Colorado receiving only 7 inches of precipitation
per year. Complicating matters further, most of
Colorado's precipitation does not fall near popu-
lated centers or at times when it is needed most.
More than half of Colorado's water flows down-
stream to Southwestern states. As a result,
Colorado experienced significant drought events
from 2000 to 2004.
Colorado's fast-growing population has also led
to increased demand for both drinking water
and landscape irrigation water, and continues to
strain the drought-prone state's freshwater
resources. Colorado's population growth is
expected to maintain its rapid pace, increasing
from nearly 4.4 million people in 2000 to 6 mil-
lion by 2025 and 10 million by the end of the
21st century. Consequently, statewide municipal
and industrial water use is predicted to increase
by 170 percent from 1998 to 2100.
In the Front Range, the eastern part of the state
where the majority of the population resides,
ground water is being tapped at a rate that will
likely exhaust supplies. Front Range communi-
ties could face a significant water supply deficit
by 2030, and shortages could be even more
drastic depending on the effectiveness of
municipal conservation efforts across the state.
June 2010
(866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) • www.epa.gov/watersense • watersense@epa.gov
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Doing IVIore With Less
Colorado's water resources are affected by cli-
mate, population growth, and existing agree-
ments to supply water to downstream states. All
of these issues highlight the value of water-effi-
ciency measures to ensure the continued health
of Colorado's water supply.
Ever since Colorado introduced Xeriscaping dur-
ing the 1981 drought (see below), the state has
often been ahead of the curve in addressing
water supply issues. For example, many Colorado
cities have begun charging for water usage
based on the water's true cost, or adopting a
tiered system, with heavy users paying more per
gallon after they exceed certain thresholds.
Promoting the slogan "Use only what you need,"
Denver Water encourages water efficiency with
rebates on water-saving products and tips for
conservation and Xeriscaping at home and
work. For example, by watering lawns and gar-
dens more efficiently, Colorado residents can
potentially save a total of 50 million gallons of
water each day—equal to the amount that
flows from more than 5,400 garden hoses run-
ning fully open for 24 hours.
In Thornton, Colorado, residents are encouraged
to become Water Saving Champions by pledg-
ing to save 10 gallons of water each day. With a
mix of tips, rebates, and outreach, the city's
social marketing campaign has significantly
reduced local water consumption. In 2009, each
Water Saving Champion household saved an
average of 630 gallons of water per month, or
7,560 gallons per year.
Water-efficient products, services, and new
homes such as those labeled by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense®
program can help consumers reduce water use
by 20 percent or more. In fact, if half the house-
holds in Colorado installed WaterSense labeled
faucets or faucet aerators, the state could save
500 million gallons of water annually—enough
to supply nearly 4,000 Colorado households
with water for a year.
If every household in Colorado replaced its
showerheads with WaterSense labeled models,
the state could save enough water every day to
meet the needs of every household in Boulder,
Colorado. For more information and water-sav-
ing tips, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
What Is Xeriscaping?
After an unusually dry winter of 1980-1981 left the state's freshwater supplies severely depleted, Colorado
was hit by a brief but intense drought period from the fall of 1980 into the summer of 1981. In response
to this crisis, Denver Water developed the concept of Xeriscaping, one of the first formal approaches to
water-efficient landscape design.
Xeriscape landscaping is defined as "quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environ-
ment" and is based on seven fundamental principles:
Proper planning and design
Soil analysis and
improvement
Appropriate plant selection
Practical turf areas
Efficient irrigation
Use of mulches
Appropriate maintenance
For more information about Xeriscaping in Colorado, visit www.xeriscape.org. For more information about
WaterSense labeled products and new homes, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
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