Sustainability Spotlight - July 2021 - Summer Outdoor Watering
By: Christopher Bird, Sustainable Wheat Ridge member
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family uses 320 gallons of water per day, about 30 percent of which is devoted to outdoor uses. As the weather warms up and drought conditions persist, water conservation is more important than ever, especially when it comes to outdoor watering.
Sustainable Wheat Ridge has some tips to help improve outdoor watering habits and consumption!
- Install a rain barrel to collect water (it has been a surprisingly wet season here in Colorado).
- Install drip water efficient drip irrigation systems for your landscaping.
- Consider switching landscaping plants to native plants that require less water for our alpine desert climate.
- Set automatic sprinklers to water early in the morning or late at night to reduce loss from evaporation.
- Maintain automatic sprinkler systems and check for broken sprinkler heads and underground pipe leaks.
- If you do not have automatic sprinklers, set a timer on your phone to remind you to shut off your hose powered sprinklers.
- Collect indoor water that you normally let run down the drain as you wait for it to warm up and utilize it for outdoor watering needs.
- Remove dead/dying plants and weeds from landscaping that compete for available water.
- Mulch flower areas and gardens to reduce water loss.
Water conservation benefits us all and will help what you pay out of pocket for water usage. If you would like a free rain barrel diverter kit from Sustainable Wheat Ridge, contact sustainability@ci.wheatridge.co.us. A rain barrel diverter kit will help you make a rain barrel out of an old trash receptacle, barrel or other large receptacle. Happy watering!
July Sustainability Updates
- The City of Wheat Ridge is accepting new neighborhood applications for the Sustainable Neighborhoods program! If you are interested in the program and would like to learn more, an open house event is scheduled for Tuesday, July 27 at 6:30 P.M. at the Wheat Ridge City Hall City Council Chambers. The City will be accepting applications for the program until Monday, August 30, 2021. To find out more about the program and the application, click here.
- The City is hosting a series of Sustainable Neighborhoods pop up events for neighbors who are interested in learning more about the program and the application process. Come out to the upcoming events to meet your neighbors, enjoy complimentary food and beverages, and learn about the program!
- Tuesday, July 20, 4-6 p.m. at Founders Park
- Wednesday, July 21, 4-6 p.m. at Anderson Park (stick around for Performances in the Park!)
- Thursday, July 22, 4-6 p.m. at Colorado Plus (part of Localworks' Porches and Patios event!)
- The City is participating in Fresh Food Connect again this growing season to partner local growers with those in need of food assistance. Residents can download the Fresh Food Connect app on their phones to donate their excess produce to Family Tree - which provides the fresh food to those in our community experiencing homelessness.
More about Sustainable Wheat Ridge
Sustainable Wheat Ridge is a resident-led committee that was established in 2018 to provide the city with recommendations to enhance the environmental sustainability of Wheat Ridge. Included in these recommendations are goals around preserving Wheat Ridge’s agricultural history, connecting local producers and consumers, and establishing partnerships to support local food production. Check out the full Sustainable Wheat Ridge action plan here!
