Are You Water-Wise?
March 11th, 2009 Categories: Colorado Round Up, Focus on Boulder
Generally, I receive tons of junk mail and end up tossing or shredding most of it. This month with my water bill was an informative pamphlet about being water-wise. I thought this would be good information to share with those of you that didn’t receive this good piece of junk mail.
There are several ways we can be water-wise:
- You can learn how to save water in your yard this summer. Since Spring planting season is coming up, the city of Boulder, Colorado, in partnership with the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) is offering numerous programs and resources that will help conserve water in your lawn and garden. Beginning March 2, The CRC will offer garden supplies, trees, drip irrigation kits, compost, mulch, and other items that help reduce water consumption. For more information on this program or products contact the CRC at: www.ConservationCenter.org or you can call 303-999-3820 x217. Supplies seem to be limited so contact soon.
- Rebates are available from dual-flush toilets to drip irrigation systems. Boulder’s water conservation rebate program includes many water-wise tools to help you conserve water. Visit, www.bouldersaveswater.net or call 303-413-7407 .
- Trees across Boulder offers eight different tree species that thrive in the Colorado climate, these trees cost $50 each. They also require less water than other trees. The saplings come bailed and burlapped with planting and maintenance instructions.
- Garden Essentials offers low-cost items like drip irrigation kits, compost and mulch which help residents complete a water wise garden. Some of these items are eligible for a city Water Conservation rebate. Visit www.BoulderSavesWater.net for more information.
- Garden-in-a-Box program provides solutions for low water consumption. This program offers 3 low cost professionally designed, pre-planned, xeric gardens that come with 30 – 40 plants, and planting maintenance instructions. Prices range from $65 – $125.
- FREE Water-Wise Landscape Seminars are offered between April 6 and April 11. The seminars are 2 hours in length and are taught by a local landscape professional. Information will be provided on xeriscaping for beginners and experts and plant selection.
- Slow the Flow in Colorado provides FREE irrigation audits for residents and homeowner associations within the city of Boulder, Colorado. An auditor will visit your location and provide information on sprinkler system efficiency and watering schedules. You can submit audit requests year round, the audits actually take place between June and August. These audits are on a first come first serve basis.
For schedules, questions, or to register visit: www.ConservationCenter.org. 
Great sites to save water thanks for your help. i am always looking to save water. I feel water is the next oil.
Toilets account for approx. 30% of water used indoors. By installing a Dual Flush toilet you can save between 40% and 70% of drinking water being flushed down the toilet, depending how old the toilet is you are going to replace.
If you are serious about saving water, want a toilet that really works and is affordable, I would highly recommend a Caroma Dual Flush toilet. Caroma toilets offer a patented dual flush technology consisting of a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. On an average of 5 uses a day (4 liquid/ 1 solid) a Caroma Dual Flush toilet uses an average of 0.96 gallons per flush. The new Sydney Smart uses only 1.28 and 0.8 gpf, that is an average of 0.89 gallons per flush. This is the lowest water consumption of any toilet available in the US. Caroma, an Australian company set the standard by giving the world its first successful two button dual flush system in the nineteen eighties and has since perfected the technology. Also, with a full 3.5″ trapway, these toilets virtually never clog. All of Caroma’s toilets are on the list of WaterSense labeled HET’s http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/find_het.htm and also qualify for several toilet rebate programs available in the US. Please visit my blog http://pottygirl.wordpress.com/2008/08/01/what-you-should-know-about-toilets/ to learn more or go to http://www.caromausa.com to learn where you can find Caroma toilets locally. Visit http://www.ecotransitions.com/howto.asp to see how we flush potatoes with 0.8 gallons of water, meant for liquids only. Best regards, Andrea Paulinelli
I’m on a well, so no water bill. Now, I’m going to find out if out local city authorities (Reno, Carson City Nevada) provide similar tips or programs.
That is excellent advice and thank you for sharing. We have similar climates and concerns, so I seem to learn alot from Colorado!
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