How often do we think about our water? We turn on the tap without much thought (unless it doesn’t come on as expected). For most people, that is about the limit. However, everyone living in El Paso County should be thinking more about water issues and water shortages, especially residents in the rural eastern areas of the county.
The water situation is not looking that great. Between droughts, increased development and aquifers getting lower, it could be the perfect storm for a water shortage. In fact, the Gazette has even reported a possible massive shortage of 18 billion gallons of water by 2060 if new sources are not found, according the county’s Master Plan. This would have major impacts on the local economy. Agriculture in the area already struggles, and anyone seeking to build new developments would face massive planning issues when it comes to the water supply.
It’s a dry heat
Colorado has experienced many hot and dry years in the last 20 years. Heat records have been set, and drought conditions have existed more often than non-drought conditions for a while now. It is predicted that this cycle will continue.
Even this May, El Paso County was one of three Colorado counties east of the mountains to still be considered to be in a drought by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Drought Monitor – even after all of the rain this spring! The numbers have improved slightly and now we are in the normal-abnormally dry range, but summer has just started. The same article mentioned above also states that Colorado is projected to have warmer temperatures and dryer conditions as summer continues.
It is no secret that droughts have a strongly negative impact on the region. Agriculture suffers the most, as pasture for livestock withers into dried-up weeds, crops struggle to grow, and residents on wells have dig deeper and deeper just to hit water. In addition, fire danger grows exponentially, and the eastern plains of El Paso County are like a giant tinder box waiting for a match, especially in the hot, arid, windy days of late summer. The entire region is, at times, an accident or a lightning strike away from a devastating wildland fire.
Moving out of town
Development also has an important impact on the water situation. More and more people are moving out of town, seeking more space, lower taxes or simply being pushed in that direction due to the current housing situation. However, they are moving to rural areas already suffering from very dry to drought-like conditions. New developments that pack a lot of people into a small area and offer amenities like golf courses or pools will have a significant effect on the water supply out east, particularly if dry conditions continue as predicted.
The rapid growth of both Colorado Springs and the unincorporated areas of the county means that many more people are tapping into the water, at a time when droughts have already affected the available supply. For years, El Paso County has had one of the strictest rules in the country regarding water and development, requiring that new developments limit their rate of withdrawal from the Denver Basin aquifer to ensure that the groundwater will last for at least 300 years.
The state itself maintains a law that has the same requirements, but for a 100-year supply. Other basins, including the Upper Black Squirrel Creek and Upper Big Sandy, are also located within the county’s borders and provide other sources of groundwater, but the Denver basin is the main supply of groundwater for urban and rural areas in the county. According to a document included in the county Water Master Plan (titled “300 Year Water Article”), areas south of the Denver basin, which peters out about mid-county, tend to have little basin groundwater and may need to supplement their supply with other sources, such as surface water.
What does the future hold?
Even with these restrictions in place, the water issue does not appear to be improving. According to the Gazette article mentioned earlier, the updated Master Plan encourages builders and planners to search for new water sources outside of groundwater and supports any efforts toward water conservation by residents. The idea is to push developers to use more renewable resources, such as precipitation-based systems.
It is foreseeable that the county may begin to encourage residents to also do their part when it comes to water conservation. It is highly likely that in the future low-flow water fixtures and Xeriscaped lawns will become the norm. It is even feasible that more stringent restrictions on lawns, watering times, types of water fixtures and more will come into play as they have in cities throughout the southwest.
[…] concerns, ranging from infrastructure-based to environmental. One of the biggest concerns involves water. Project approval requires long-term plans – 100-year and 300-year depending on different factors […]