The city responded that the pipeline will not have long-term impacts to continuing agricultural uses. It was kind of amazing how quickly and supportively our community responded to our water-wise rules last year.. We did a pretty thorough and thoughtful evaluation of this when we were developing our drought management plan, Biggs said. Strong messaging and enforcement, as well as drought surcharges, were also important for reducing demand. The Thornton Office of Emergency Management plans, coordinates and supports activities to reduce community vulnerability by preparing for, responding to, recovering from, and mitigating impacts to natural and man-made disasters and large-scale emergencies. Our editorial policy and donor list can be viewed atwateredco.org. Hard "no." Put your water down the Poudre River, some helpful environmental groups are telling Thornton. Properties Restaurants Entertainment Summer Watering Season in Thornton As most of us expected, the semi-arid Colorado climate will be bringing water restrictions to Thornton and many surrounding cities this summer. Still, she said, Due to drier conditions, we continue to encourage water customers to use water efficiently.. The new rules also limit outdoor watering to between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. After years of variable outdoor watering rules that fluctuated depending on drought conditions, Steamboat Springs residents embraced the new permanent schedule right away, according to Kelly Romero-Heaney, the citys former water resource manager who earlier this month became assistant director for water at the Department of Natural Resources. 3680: Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2012, H.R. The NPDES permit program controls water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States. There is a tremendous amount of opportunity within the City of Thornton for existing businesses to thrive and grow. Water leaks must be remedied 10 days to repair after notice. The city of Thornton is currently in stage 2 drought warning status. Its an effective method for watering shrubs, perennials, vegetables, and other landscape plants. Water storage projects can be expensive and unpopular among some residents, but theyre an important piece of the equation. In the case of a Class III storm (and only in this case) the city will plow all residential streets. The new rules also limit outdoor watering to between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. After years of variable outdoor watering rules that fluctuated depending on drought conditions, Steamboat Springs residents embraced the new permanent schedule right away, according to Kelly Romero-Heaney, the citys former water resource manager who earlier this month became Assistant Director for Water at the Department of Natural Resources. Thornton has obtained easements from 98% of landowners. Join our Fire Family! We started communication on May 1 and by the first week in July, we could see by usage that the majority of our customers were all watering no more than three days a week, which was really encouraging, Gallucci said. This can help you save water through the summer and get the most out of your watering schedule. Our new Watering Guide contains some of the new rules and provides a guide for watering up to three days per week. But were a surface supply city, we dont have significant reservoir space to speak of and so if we enact watering restrictions, were just letting the water go by us. But when you curb your water use by 5 percent each year, you have to have the storage to keep that additional water to use later on. Still, she said, Due to drier conditions, we continue to encourage water customers to use water efficiently.. We wanted to lead by example.. Licensing is an important step toward doing business in the city. Water Restrictions; Water-Wise (Colorado) Water-Wise Landscapes; Water-Wise Landscaping; Educational Video. We have to be able to rely on consistent behavior change from our customers and just a consistent ethic and not this, Oh, were in a drought were in an emergency, like the crash-dieting approach. Your email address will not be published. This is one of the best ways to implement a water conservation ethic across the community, because instead of being really mindful of drought in drought years, were mindful of it year after year, Gallucci said. But when you curb your water use by 5 percent each year, you have to have the storage to keep that additional water to use later on. We dont have enough of that time machine in the City of Durango and weve built our policies around that.. Check Thorntons Watering Guide every month for recommended number of minutes for watering lawns. This is one of the best ways to implement a water conservation ethic across the community, because instead of being really mindful of drought in drought years, were mindful of it year after year, Gallucci said. Over time it became apparent that there was not enough water for everyone and the concept of First in Time, First in Right was born. It can also be very helpful if a community is facing the need to expand their capacity they can lower that peak and avoid or downsize any capacity or expansion projects. If you are a residential water customer in the City of Thornton you can bring in your old, water-wasting shower-head (delivers more than 2 gallons of water per minute) and exchange it for a free, highly-rated, Earth Massage Shower-head by Niagara Conservation Corporation. We implement, monitor, measure and evaluate water-efficiency activities and regularly revise the plan to meet our goals. The city hasnt said yet when it plans to break ground. Also, thanks for commenting. Theres the old adage that canals move water in space and reservoirs move water in time. With low to no maintenance, we allow existing high-water plants and grasses to expire, and we will replace them with native, low-water alternatives. If outdoor water use can be reduced, it can be a very effective way to reduce water consumption. The passage of the Clean Water Act established NPDES permit requirements for discharges of stormwater. Sec. 2842: Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011, H.R. But according to conservation experts, even those cities with the most robust water-saving initiatives underway must keep working, as a good water year here and there isnt likely to alleviate the Wests long-term drought. But city leaders also view permanent watering rules as just one tool in a broader water conservation toolbox, along with education and outreach, water-wise landscape and fixture incentives, tiered rate structures, and strict enforcement measures. 2842: Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act of 2011, H.R. It seems like a rational exercise, it drives conservation. Conservation and storage is this really careful and important balance in Colorado. Thornton city officials say the construction of 18,000 housing units is on hold until a water pipeline fight is resolved with Larimer County, which is preventing potentially 54,000 new residents . Permanent watering rules have indeed helped some Colorado cities reduce their outdoor water use, which can represent as much as half of all domestic water use. It also worked with property owners to develop a pipeline alignment that would minimize impacts to those properties, according to the resolution. 11859 Pecos Street, Suite #200 Westminster CO 80234. The Thornton Animal Control unit currently consists of four full-time officers who are available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week, including all holidays. Water Sources: Colorado River Basin, Arkansas River Basin, South Platte River Basin. Energy Star certified fixtures use 90% less energy and produce about 70-90% less heat than traditional models using incandescent light bulbs. If you have a pool, you can fill, re-fill, or top it off as long as you arent wasting water. Our H2Overhaul for sustainable landscapesis a tiered approach for the future of our open spaces. The city currently serves over 41,000 customers over a 31 square mile service area. Coloradans are ready to take this step, said Romero-Heaney. Limit of two shower-heads per residence. map of Thornton's 2016 water service area is included in Appendix B. In real estate, local knowledge matters. According to the analysis, which examined rules in 15 cities representing the states different geographies and major population centers, eight of the cities surveyed have enacted permanent restrictions. All the strategies we have at our disposal for water conservation and efficiency fall along a spectrum, says Waverly Klaw, director of resilient communities and watersheds for theSonoran Institute, a Tucson-based conservation organization. In most communities, peak demand occurs during the summer, when residential and commercial customers water their lawns and gardens. But were a surface supply city, we dont have significant reservoir space to speak of and so if we enact watering restrictions, were just letting the water go by us. Those initial numbers were right on target with the citys goal of contributing 11,000 to 13,000 acre-feet to its supply through conservation over the next 50 years through the watering rules and other measures. 3123, Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act of 2009, S. 1777: Good Samaritan Cleanup of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2009, S. 587: Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals (FRAC) Act, S.796, Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009, South Platte Regional Water Development Concept, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, Water Infrastructure Supply Efficiency (WISE) project. Stay up to date on Thornton's drought status. Lets push and strive and discuss and encourage conservation because that will push out the investment that we need to make in additional water supplies, but at the same time, lets pursue those investments in water supplies because we know theyll only be more expensive in the future.. Government Departments. Effects on agricultural uses will be temporary during construction and are anticipated to be minimal after construction, according to the city. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), A tractor-style sprinkler irrigates a Colorado lawn. July 5, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. By Sarah Kuta Despite a stubborn, 20-year drought and reservoirs whose supplies are below normal, Colorado communities remain split on whether to impose permanent outdoor. The same is true for Colorado Springs, which enacted its permanent watering rules in January 2020. Disclaimer: I work for the City of Thornton which is mentioned in the article. Lets push and strive and discuss and encourage conservation because that will push out the investment that we need to make in additional water supplies, but at the same time, lets pursue those investments in water supplies because we know theyll only be more expensive in the future.. Increasing rates is often the most effective tool for achieving water savings, according to the study. View all of our upcoming events and meetings with time and location information. Below is information on watering restrictions in the City of Thornton. The health of our waters is the principal measure of how we live on the land Luna Leopold. Weld County landowners, including Hicks and her daughter, have been influential opponents of Thornton as the city moved through the permit application process. Some city and utility leaders say the watering rules help residents to permanently change their outdoor watering behaviors, given the aridification of the West and the accelerating pace of climate change. Others are providing grants to homeowners associations and working with developers to encourage more water-friendly landscaping in neighborhoods. In a recent study, the alliance found that mandatory watering restrictions of all kinds lead to significant decreases in water demand. Coloradofollows the Prior Appropriation Doctrine, also referred to as the First in Time, First in Right doctrine. Strong messaging and enforcement, as well as drought surcharges, were also important for reducing demand. Despite a stubborn, 20-year drought and reservoirs whose supplies are below normal, Colorado communities remain split on whether to impose permanent outdoor watering restrictions, according to a Fresh Water News analysis of local . Outdoor water use can often represent a very large percentage of a water providers portfolio, and the capacity of a system is built to meet peak water use, Christiansen said. Information on the city's Contracting and Purchasing processes, how to obtain solicitation documents, and more. Learn where you may have leaks or need maintenance and discover ways you can save water and money. You cant prescribe a blanket strategy across every water provider typically, said Bill Christiansen, director of programs for the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Every large provider is considering different ways to expand their storage as a form of taking care of their supply.. The watering rules do not pertain to gardens. Freelance writer Sarah Kuta can be reached at sarahkuta@gmail.com. info@ThorntonWater.com. In the first year under the new rules, Colorado Springs saw a 1 percent reduction in commercial irrigation and a 4 percent to 5 percent reduction in residential irrigation, Gallucci said. Some growing Colorado cities view permanent watering rules and other conservation measures as a new source of water, because these measures help buy them more time before they have to seek out other, often costly new water supplies in advance of future development. If outdoor water use can be reduced, it can be a very effective way to reduce water consumption. The City of Thornton maintains an economic development website, including business listings, development news, business resources, Thornton Development Authority information, etc. For more information, visit the City of Thorntons, Advanced Metering Infrastructure technology, The city is replacing 25,000 residential water meters. Others continue to monitor drought conditions throughout the summer months and adjust their watering rules depending on the current severity. The City of Thornton Fire Department is a progressive department that continues to strive for the best service with cutting edge equipment and technology and mitigates the public safety needs of the community by providing services quickly, competently, and compassionately. Aurora is not fully developed, said Marshall Brown, general manager of Aurora Water. Although Thornton has received some Spring moisture and it's helped to lessen the demand for water We dont have enough of that time machine in the City of Durango and weve built our policies around that.. But we do have to continue to acquire supplies to meet future growth and demands that we know are coming our way. Where can I find information on Thornton's water conservation programs? The average daily water usage in the City of Brighton is 3 Millions of Gallons per Day (MGD . Depending on your location, electric and gas services are provided to residents of Thornton by Xcel Energy or United Power. Water storage projects can be expensive and unpopular among some residents, but theyre an important piece of the equation. For more information, please contact Stormwater Program Management at (731) 423-2041. That can save ratepayers a lot of money if a large investment can be avoided.. Thats not to say that Durango encourages residents to use water needlessly. Thornton also said it worked with property owners to locate the pipeline, including minimizing effects to the operations of irrigation equipment. We dont have enough of that time machine in the City of Durango and weve built our policies around that.. In a recent study, the alliance found that mandatory watering restrictions of all kinds lead to significant decreases in water demand. Most industrial, manufacturing, or transportation businesses that store materials, products, or equipment outdoors, or conduct vehicle washing or process operations outdoors are required to obtain coverage under the State Water Resources Control Boards General Industrial Activities Stormwater Permit. Those kinds of statistics helped Steamboat Springs last spring make the move to permanent water restrictions. Its not fair to say a certain strategy would work for every water provider. There really is no reason to water irrigated sod every day, unless its getting heavy use like you would see at a soccer field or a community park. For more information, visit the City of Thorntons water page. Some communities are installing automated metering infrastructure systems, which they hope will help water users track and better manage their water use in real-time. But were a surface supply city, we dont have significant reservoir space to speak of and so if we enact watering restrictions, were just letting the water go by us. The city of Thornton is currently in stage 2 drought warning status. Thats been the case for Aurora since 2002, when the city first enacted its permanent rules limiting residents to watering no more than three days a week and, from May 1 to Sept. 30, to watering before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. Since Colorado communities are at different points in their water conservation journey and are facing their own unique challenges, the path forward will look different for every city. Proof of Thornton residency (or proof that the residence receives water from the City of Thornton) is required at the time of exchange. Even with the water restrictions in place for Thornton you can have a healthy flourishing lawn and only water two days per week during most of the season. The same is true for Colorado Springs, which enacted its permanent watering rules in January 2020. Aurora. Our elected officials and City staff dedicate a substantial amount of our efforts to creating an atmosphere that provides businesses located in Thornton with every possible advantage. The Thornton Water Pipeline is closer to becoming reality in Weld County following a unanimous vote Tuesday night by Thornton City Council to override the county commissioners denial of a use by special review permit to construct the pipeline. No lawn irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. 6-3. So far, while current conditions are drier than normal, our snowpack and reservoir levels are looking sufficient enough to not require restrictions, said Kim Hutton, Boulders water resources manager. Since the early 2000s, Auroras water use has declined 36 percent, resulting in some of the lowest per-person water use on the Front Range. Some growing Colorado cities view permanent watering rules and other conservation measures as a new source of water, because these measures help buy them more time before they have to seek out other, often costly new water supplies in advance of future development. This page presents licensing information and all of the forms needed to get started in one place. Others are providing grants to homeowners associations and working with developers to encourage more water-friendly landscaping in neighborhoods. The board anticipated the citys ability to override the decision, sending a letter acknowledging as much to Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann earlier this month. Does the city of Thornton have any water use restrictions? Since the early 2000s, Auroras water use has declined 36 percent, resulting in some of the lowest per-person water use on the Front Range. Here are the main initiatives the city has underway for the year ahead. For more information visit, Planning for drought means managing supply, demand and impact and ensuring the delivery of adequate supply to all water customers. Learn where you may have leaks or need maintenance and discover ways you can save water and money. Thornton's Current Drought Status & Water Restrictions. The Police and Fire Departments and City Court system are key components of that commitment. For more information visit gocot.net/meters. To review the latest, A customer portal to track your water use and have the option to pay your water bill online. This is due to several years of decreased mountain snow-pack and stream flows. For four property owners whose relocation requests werent feasible, the city argues the pipeline will not hinder the property owners future development plans. Conservation can only contribute so much to supply, Gallucci said. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Conservation and storage is this really careful and important balance in Colorado. Permanent watering rules have indeed helped some Colorado cities reduce their outdoor water use, which can represent as much as half of all domestic water use. That was one big reason Thornton adopted permanent watering rules in March, where watering is limited to three days per week between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. At the same time, the city also updated its code to include beefed-up enforcement measures for leaks and other water-wasting behaviors. But watering rules are just one piece of the puzzle in Aurora. These and other conservation efforts appear to be working, too. Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. While the council did not address Weinmeisters concerns, Kulmann said the city remains committed to working with communities to the north. For more information or to report a possible violation, call City of Thornton Water Resources at 303-538-7360. The City of Thornton Revenue Division collects sales tax, use tax, lodging tax, telephone tax, E-911 fees, franchise fees, PEG fees, and pawnbroker surcharge fees. Thornton is committed to providing dependable and sustainable water resources for our customers to enjoynow and into the future. Planning for drought means managing supply, demand and impact and ensuring the delivery of adequate supply to all water customers. You cant prescribe a blanket strategy across every water provider typically, said Bill Christiansen, director of programs for the Alliance for Water Efficiency. Planning for drought is one thing weve got these short-term strategies where we reduce demand or grab extra water, but one of the real strains on all of our systems is the aridification of the region, said Emily Hunt, deputy infrastructure director for Thornton Water, which also has a tiered rate structure and various water-wise incentive programs. View all of the departments in our town government, their duties, and how to get in contact. Glen, During drought, when water supply is low, many communities enact or tighten watering rules to help lower the demand for water. For current drought phases and restrictions visit our drought page. Coloradans are ready to take this step, said Romero-Heaney. Backflow Prevention. Its important to keep moving in the same direction of greater and greater water savings. Instead of flip-flopping between various watering schedules and rules throughout the summer, residents simply adapt to the new norm and move forward. Additional measures the city will take include stripping and storing topsoil separately from excavated trench materials and seeding or leaving land fallow in accordance with the property owners agreement for reclamation procedures following pipeline construction. - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. During drought, when water supply is low, many communities enact or tighten watering rules to help lower the demand for water. Waste of Water Guidelines By conserving water year-round and using water wisely, you can help sustain our water supply. Colorados most senior water rights were originated in the mid-1800s when settlers began digging ditches to mine for minerals and irrigate farms. Steamboat limits customers to watering their lawns three days per week based on the last digit of their address even numbers can water on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, while odd numbers can water on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. First 66,000 gallons are billed at $5.79 per 1,000 gallons used. We have to be able to rely on consistent behavior change from our customers and just a consistent ethic and not this, Oh, were in a drought were in an emergency, like the crash-dieting approach. In fact, the city has some pretty punitive tiered pricing for heavy users, Biggs pointed out. Residents are encouraged to actively conserve water year-round. Thornton responded that the pipeline will be buried below the plow line to prevent interference with continuing agricultural and estate land uses. Ive got a two-pronged approach, Biggs said. Unlike drought response, when youre trying to manage a dearth in water supply for a shorter period of time, these are planning well out into our future. The Cone Zone provides information regarding lane closures and detours impacting the City of Thornton.

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