Water Conservation & Protection
Water is the world's most precious resource.
Besides being essential for life, it stabilizes our climate,
irrigates our crops, and lights our cities. Although 80% of
the Earth's surface is covered by water, only 0.5% is
usable fresh water.
Humans are just one aspect of the larger
ecosystem that is Planet Earth, and we share this resource
with plant and animal species that also need water to survive.
Of the available fresh water worldwide, 5% is
used by households, 75% by agriculture, and 20% by industry.
In Colorado, 10% of fresh water is used in the cities, while
90% is used by the agricultural community.
Clean water is becoming harder and harder to
find; thus, we must take steps to protect and improve this
resource. The impacts of pollution and population on water is
the responsibility of us all.
What can you do to protect the water quality of
our streams and rivers? *
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Keep it clean, 'cause we're all downstream!
- Report spills via the Boulder Emergency Response Hotline,
303-441-4444.
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Pick up pet waste.
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Dispose of chemicals (such as motor oil,
gasoline, antifreeze, solvents, paints, pesticides) properly.
Don't pour chemicals down the drain, onto the ground, or into
the storm sewer - they end up in the creek (See Boulder
County’s Household Hazardous Waste website for information on
disposing of these chemicals).
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Take your car to a professional car wash
instead of washing it in the driveway. Car washes treat waste
water. If you do wash at home, prevent soap runoff from
reaching the storm sewer, and use waterless soap or avoid soap
that contains chlorine, chlorine bleach, phosphates, nitrates,
or ammonia.
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Use minimal amount of fertilizer on lawns
and gardens. Avoid using when a rain shower is expected.
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Use alternative pest management techniques
instead of pesticides. Avoid
using pesticides when a rain shower is expected.
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Clean driveways and sidewalks by sweeping
instead of using a hose and water. Don’t wash lawn clippings
or leaves down the storm drain.
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Water the lawn when it’s dry rather than on
a calendar schedule. Don’t water the pavement. Minimize paved
surfaces when landscaping.
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Limit driving and other fossil fuel use;
keep your car maintained; use mass transit (SS, TDS, nitrate,
phosphate, pH, SC, DO, organic chemicals).
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Use alternatives to household cleaners and
avoid putting hazardous chemicals down the drain. (For more
information, on less toxic household cleaning products.
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Don’t remove trees and bushes from along
streams.
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Maintain onsite wastewater
(septic) systems properly.
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Use good animal keeping practices at cattle
feedlots, hog farms, dairies, and barnyards to avoid animal
waste reaching surface water.
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Prevent sediment from washing off a
construction site.
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Help prevent forest fires.
For More Information:
Boulder County Public Health
Partners in Water Quality
Boulder County is proud to support the
Watershed Approach to Stream Health (WASH), a partnership of
communities working
together to protect our water quality.
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*This material used with the permission of
Boulder Area Sustainability Information Network (BASIN). |
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 Tips |
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Pick up pet waste.
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Sweep sidewalks rather than hosing.
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Use a professional car wash.
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