After experiencing an abnormally warm spring, many residents in Broomfield, Colorado, began to water their lawns earlier than usual this year. However, environmental officials are worried the early water use isn't such a good idea. According to the Broomfield Enterprise, Broomfield Environmental Services is asking residents to practice water conservation after the winter didn't produce as much snowpack as it generally does. The lower the snowpack is, the less water there might be for upcoming years, according to the source.
The reduction of water use isn't major – just 10 percent – but water suppliers hope it will make a lasting effect. Some of the suggestions the residents were given included only watering their lawns twice per week before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. and cleaning their walkways or driveways with a broom rather than by blasting with a hose. Officials are also urging residents to check to make sure there are no leaking pipes to avoid high water bills.
Another way residents could reduce their water usage is by using rain barrels on their properties. Even if the rainfall is small this season, the water that does come can be collected and stored for a later time. The water harvested would not only be useful for watering lawns and other household chores, but using rain barrels is one of the best ways to reduce chemically-treated water runoff, which can be detrimental to surrounding streams and waterways.
According to Rain Barrel Source, one great way to make the best of a system is by attaching multiple rain barrels together to collect as much rainwater as possible.
