New numbers indicate people obeying water restrictions
Numbers released Tuesday show most customers are following Colorado Springs Utilities’ water restrictions.
It’s tempting to turn up the sprinklers as Mother Nature turns up the heat.However, new statistics from CSU show customers are stepping up water conservation.
CSU customers used almost 200 millionfewer gallons of waterlast week than they did during that same week in 2012. From May 20 to May 26, customers used 570.7 million gallons of water. Last week’s average temperature was 60 degrees. Last year, customers used 731.5 million gallons while the average temperature was only slightly warmer at 63 degrees.
CSU’s goal is to save 5.8 billion gallons of water. It hoped customers would save about 1.3 billion gallons by this time. Instead, customers have far exceeded the goal. They’ve savedalmost 2 billion gallons.
CSU spokesperson Patrice Lehermeier credits customer conservation efforts and cold weather.
“We had those cooler temperatures, that helped out our saving, so we’re just really on a good track right now,” said Lehermeier.
Mary Eberle spent the morning tidying upher lawn. She agreed with City Council’s decision to implement water restrictions. However, she was skeptical about how her lawn and plans would hold up.
“Two days a week seems to be enough. I can tell because when I dig down to plant some of my plants right now, it’s still kind of moist, so two days a week is just fine for us,” said Eberle.
She researched drought-tolerant plants to incorporate into her landscaping this year.
Despite promising numbers, there is still a ways to go before CSU would consider lifting water restrictions. Its reservoirs are only about half full at 47.9 percent capacity. At this time last year, those reservoirs were 66.9 percent full. Before the drought, from 1997 – 2001,reservoirs were about 78.7 percent full each year.
“Change is possible, however right now what our water staff is telling us, two days a week is appropriate to rebuild our water supply,” said Lehermeier.
CSU will keep a close eye on how much water is being saved throughout the summer.
It has handed out 2,000 education letters to customers. Customers receive an education letter after someone alerts CSU that a customer hasn’t been following restrictions. If the customer continues disobeying restrictions, they could get fined by CSU.In order to be issued a fine, a CSU worker must witness and videotape a customer watering illegally. The maximum fine is $1,000.
The Pueblo Chieftain reports Pueblo Water Works Board adopted a policy outlining four stages of drought response. It will implement those stages based on storage levels and weather conditions. However, its customers are not under restrictions right now.
