Colorado’s historically low snowpack has most of the state prepping for a drought. Last month, the City of Boulder issued a set of rules to limit water usage, including not running sprinklers between 10 PM and 6 PM, not using a hose without a shutoff nozzle, and promptly fixing leaks. They also recommended keeping lawns dormant until May, prioritizing watering trees, and planning a “waterwise” yard.
They’re expected to issue additional guidance this month, but in the meantime, there are plenty of ways to prep your house and household for the summer.
Replace Your Turf
Most lawns need around 1-1.5 inches of water per week and are often a household’s largest water consumer. If you’re interested in removing that thirsty grass, Resource Central, a Boulder-based nonprofit, has a Lawn Replacement Program that rewards you for rolling up your turf. You can choose to hire a crew or do it yourself, and the nonprofit partners directly with the water utility companies to provide discounts.
For Boulder residents, they’re providing $750 that can go towards lawn removal or their Garden in a Box kits, full of low-water, pollinator-friendly plants that, once established, will be less maintenance than a lawn. If you’ve missed the March pre-orders, there’s another round in June for planting in August and September. The kits range from nine to 29 plants, and they have options for full sun, full shade, and everything in between. You can visit their plant store and explore solutions and programs at ResourceCentral.org.
Install a Rain Collection Barrel
As of 2016, Boulder residents are allowed to collect two rain barrels totaling 110 gallons from the roofs of their primary residence. This “rainwater harvesting” requires no permits, but the water can only be used outside, and the barrel must have a lid to stop insects or other pests from using the stored water.
There are plenty of food-grade barrels on Facebook Marketplace, often repurposed from pickle or other food transport, and you can use a diverter kit to siphon the water off your gutters. Special shoutout to Ben Moore for hooking me up with my kit! Last year, he installed them at his house and realized how simple they are to make. His kits come with the spigot and screen filter on top, and he also has diverter kits.
Collect Shower Water
Unless you’re a fan of cold showers, chances are you give the water a few moments to warm up. Rather than having that go down the drain, you can collect it and use it to water plants, run the toilet, etc., effectively diverting around 475 gallons of water per year.
If you want an upgrade from your hardware store bucket, Elle Turner co-founded SEVAS to create an ergonomic, practical shower water catcher. With every purchase, they fund two days of clean drinking water through The Water Project, plant two mangrove trees with Earth Lungs Kenya, and offset 50kg of carbon supporting the UN-supported Burgos Wind Project in the Philippines. If you have a water softener, don’t use the water on plants. Order yours at SevasWater.com.