Restrictions begin Tuesday to conserve water in Steamboat Springs area
Stage 2 water restrictions
• Potable water shall be used for beneficial purposes and should not be wasted.• No outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.• Outdoor watering schedule is based on the last number of the customer’s street address. Odd-numbered addresses can water Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays; even-numbered addresses can water Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. There is no watering permitted Wednesdays.• No vehicle washing at residences.• No washing hard surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and parking areas. Sweep with a broom instead.• No running outdoor water features.• No use of domestic water for dust control.• Limit the filling of swimming pools to one filling per year, unless draining for repairs.• Permits may be secured for newly sodded lawns and newly planted trees for as many as 14 consecutive days and for newly seeded lawns for as many as 25 consecutive days with the exception of Wednesdays.Tips for conserving water
• Avoid watering in windy conditions.• Adjust sprinklers to avoid watering hard surfaces. Set timers to avoid over-watering.• Because our clay soils restrict penetration of water, it is better to water for three short intervals than for one long interval.• When irrigating with a hose, use a spring-loaded nozzle, not a free-running hose.• Cut your lawn no shorter than three inches to reduce soil moisture loss and to promote deeper roots.• Avoid planting trees and shrubs or sodding new lawns during the drier, hotter months.• Plant native grasses and shrubs or drought-tolerant species in place of water-intensive species.STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — After a winter of below-average snowfall, Steamboat Springs water providers have implemented Stage 2 water restrictions that will go into effect Tuesday.
The restrictions will impact customers of Mount Werner Water, the city of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat II Metro District and Tree Haus Metro District.
Among the restrictions, homeowners will only be allowed to water their lawns on certain days in an effort to conserve water.
“I believe people see this as a common-sense approach,” said Jon Snyder, public works director for the city of Steamboat.
After dry winters, water restrictions were previously put in place during the summers of 2012, 2013 and 2015. They proved effective.
During the dry summer of 2012, water use in July decreased 14 percent when compared to June, when restrictions were only in place for two days. In August, usage was down 17 percent compared to June.
Local water providers rely on snowfall from the winter to fill its reservoirs.
As of Tuesday, the snowpack on Buffalo Pass was 91 percent of average. For most of the winter the snowpack was below 80 percent of average.
Before enacting restrictions, water providers also look at long-term weather forecasts.
According to the three-month outlook prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there is a 33 percent chance that precipitation in the region will be below average during the next three months. There is a 40 percent chance that the temperatures will be above average.
Snyder said he thinks people living in Northwest Colorado understand why the water conservation efforts are necessary.
“The feedback that I’ve gotten has all been positive,” Snyder said.
During Stage 2 water restrictions, no outdoor watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
People with an odd-numbered address are only allowed to water on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Those with an even-numbered address can water Sunday, Tuesday and Friday. No one is allowed to water on Wednesdays.
If one irrigation system is used by multiple addresses, either schedule can be used.
Special permits can be issued for new lawns and trees.
People washing their vehicles at home should use a bucket and a spring-loaded hose nozzle.
Drinking water should not be used to clean hard surfaces like driveways and sidewalks.
To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland.
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