How to Conserve
Small actions at home can save thousands of gallons and more. We need it.
After all, the Blue River is expected to see a major gap between water supplies and demands by 2050. Just how short will we be? Around 15 billion gallons, or the amount of water used by more than 100,000 families each year.
Here are a few ways to start saving:
- Spend five minutes or less in the shower. This uses less water than a bath.
- Install a high-efficiency showerhead. Or sign up for Tame the Tap and let HC3 do it for you.
- Replace an old toilet with a high-efficiency toilet, which can pay for itself over time in water savings. If you participate in HC3’s indoor water audit program, you’re eligible for a $100 rebate on toilet replacements.
- Turn off the water while shaving, brushing, and lathering.
- Replace or install a low-flow aerator on your bathroom faucet.
- Do not let water run while hand-washing dishes.
- Wash only full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. Try to wash two fewer loads per week.
Click the buttons below for more ways to conserve water at home.
Ask Eartha: How to have a beautiful yard without wasting water.
Local Water Conservation
Summit County is home to the Blue River, a headwaters region for the mighty Colorado River. Located in the High Rockies, this watershed plays a critical role for the health and vibrancy of this major river basin in the western United States. Not only does water from Summit County make it to the Pacific Ocean, but also to the Gulf of Mexico through trans-mountain diversion projects. All of this makes the Blue River Watershed a cruicial player in water health and availability.
Check out what your town is doing to conserve water.
Photo by Bill Linfield.
Blue River Watershed
In Summit County, Colorado, we live within close proximity to many watersheds, including the Blue River Watershed. A watershed is simply a basin that carries water from the land in higher elevations to lower elevations after rain and snow melt. Water is a universal solvent (able to dissolve other substances), which means it is affected by everything it comes into contact with. This is why it is crucial to be aware of what we are doing on land and how our activities affect water quality for life downstream.
Driving through Summit County on Highway 9, you will see the Blue River glisten with ice and snow in the winter and flow with great force in the spring and summer. While this river can seem small at times, it actually runs through three counties: Lake, Summit, and Grand.
Photo by Bill Linfield.
Water Efficiency Plans
In 2017, HC3 and five water providers in Summit County partnered for the development of a regional water efficiency plan, which addresses common themes and water saving opportunities. Individual plans (for four of the five providers) represent the unique needs of each community. Click on the plans to learn more!
Climate Change in the Headwaters
Water and Snow Impacts
New report by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization demonstrates the impact of Climate Change on Colorado River headwaters communities. The outlook is dramatic for Summit County and the Blue River Watershed. The need to mitigate emissions and adapt to higher temperatures is clearly laid out. The water efficiency plans are one step towards that goal.
