2013 Drought Causes Water Restrictions Across Colorado

And it looks like water restrictions will be in force for most front range cities.

Starting April 1, 2013 most cities in the Denver metro area and most of Colorado’s front range will have water restrictions in place. Most of these water restrictions will be limited to watering of lawns. Lawn watering is the single largest nonessential use of water – and the easiest one to control. Since it’s outside, the inspectors can see when people violate the restrictions.

With the current snowpack in the mountains at 50-70% of average, the drought is looking like it will be worse than the most recent one in 2002. If it gets worse, more restrictions are likely.

Efficient Pressure Washing Uses Less Water

Efficient Pressure Washing Uses Less Water

Pressure washing companies that aren’t used to drought conditions may not know how to work with these restrictions. Many of them use far more water than is necessary. Many use a greater volume of water to do the cleaning when more efficient techniques can get the job done with much less water used.

One example is washing cars for auto dealers. If you know how to spray properly, you can get the cars clean with less than 2 gallons of water per car. But you have to work efficiently and spray the right way to accomplish this.

Pressure Washing Heavy Equipment At A Mine

The same principles apply, whether you’re washing trucks, heavy equipment, sidewalks, or walls. It does take extra effort and training to make sure our crews work as efficiently as possible. But saving water to keep the water restrictions from getting worse is something everyone should do.

As of April 1, Denver is restricting residential pressure washing to designated watering days. But Fort Collins, which has more serious drought conditions, is prohibiting all pressure washing on “siding, garages, sidewalks, driveways, and patios except as necessary for health and safety reasons.”

Property managers need to be aware of how the water restrictions will affect their properties. The fines for commercial violations start at $250. If you’re not sure how your commercial properties are affected by Colorado’s 2013 water restrictions, call us with your questions.

We stay on top of anything to do with water and water recovery – our business depends on it.