All articles tagged with #water conservation
As soaking storms roll into the Chicago area, officials urge residents to conserve water to protect supply quality and reduce flood risk, with tips like delaying showers and limiting dishwasher or laundry use while the MWRD manages treatment plants and flood-control infrastructure.
An environmental scientist says most people don’t need long showers: about three minutes for a body wash, two more for shampoo, and one minute if you skip hair washing; longer showers are often for relaxation rather than cleanliness, affected by factors like soft water, water pressure, and time of day. A practical tip is to shampoo once to save water and money.
California's new law AB 1572 bans the use of potable water for ornamental grass on state government properties, schools, cities, counties, and HOAs, starting Jan 1, with further phases expanding to commercial properties in 2028 and HOAs in 2029. Exemptions cover functional turf and areas used for recreation; enforcement rests with local water providers, with penalties up to $1,000 per day for violations. Proponents say the rule will save millions of gallons of water, while opponents warn about readiness and costs, prompting some communities to begin replacing grass now.
Denver Water's board approved a lawn-watering ban starting Oct. 1 to curb usage amid record heat and drought; exemptions cover trees, shrubs, vegetables, and hand or non-spray irrigation, with fines escalating after a warning for violators as reservoir levels remain well below normal and the rule will be reassessed next spring.
The Bureau of Reclamation’s new 10-year framework for the Colorado River emphasizes voluntary conservation in the Upper Basin (Utah and neighboring states) and allows up to 3 million acre-feet of conserved water to be stored in Lake Powell for transactions, while raising the possibility of large cuts in the Lower Basin (Arizona, California, Nevada) during dry years. It targets about 200,000 acre-feet of voluntary savings for Utah and other Upper Basin states, but also contemplates maintaining Powell and Mead levels by adjusting releases and potentially tapping upstream reservoirs. The plan could trigger a compact call or lawsuits if flows fall below critical thresholds, and while it’s meant to push toward consensus among seven states, it does not solve long-standing drought and climate-change pressures. Final federal decision is imminent.
As more storms roll in, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District has declared an Overflow Action Day and is urging Chicago-area residents to cut water use (shorter showers, fewer dishwasher runs, delayed laundry) to ease pressure on the Deep Tunnel (TARP) system. Reservoirs are filling quickly, with McCook at about 95% capacity (nearly 5 billion gallons) and Thornton around 58%, raising the risk of overflows that could release untreated sewage into area rivers or Lake Michigan and cause flooding or beach closures.
A forthcoming federal plan would require Arizona, California and Nevada to cut their use of Colorado River water by about 20% over the next two years, with the possibility of deeper cuts as negotiators seek to rescue the depleted river.
Parts of the West Country are officially in drought as a fourth heatwave grips the UK, with the Environment Agency saying more than half of England is in drought and July could be the driest on record (about 7% of normal rainfall). Impacts include wildfires, low river levels and early harvests; Thames Water has imposed a hosepipe ban while other providers urge careful use. The drought is described as a rapid 'flash drought' or climate whiplash, prompting simple water-saving tips such as shorter showers, full loads and reusing pool water for plants.
Cities across the Southwest are stepping up water-saving measures as Lake Powell falls to historic lows, threatening river flow and power generation. Phoenix has three purification facilities and smart irrigation, Tucson has long switched to desert landscaping, San Diego relies on a large desalination plant and recently agreed to curb Colorado River withdrawals, and Albuquerque promotes its Water 2120 plan with restrictions on lawn watering. California and six other river states remain at an impasse over sharing cuts, while agriculture still accounts for most river usage. Drinking water remains secure for now, but costs could rise and urban conservation must be paired with greater agricultural and policy action to avert a worst-case scenario like a “dead pool.”
Utah businessman Kevin O'Leary agrees to cut the Box Elder County data center footprint from about 40,000 acres to roughly 20,000, removing two parcels and leaving about 10,000 acres developable while preserving substantial open space; Utah Senate President Stuart Adams welcomed the changes and pressed for water-conservation technology and a memorandum of understanding to protect the Great Salt Lake. Opponents, including BEAR, remain skeptical and have filed suit as the project advances with O'Leary Digital and the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA).
Arizona, California and Nevada proposed voluntary cuts totaling 700,000–1,000,000 acre-feet through 2028 to bolster Lake Powell and Lake Mead, adding to earlier reductions for a total of over 3.2 million acre-feet through 2028. Framed as a bridge to buy time for longer-term negotiations and to avoid mandatory CAP cuts, the plan requires federal approval and signals openness to mediation with Upper Basin states.
California, Arizona and Nevada propose a two-year plan to cut more than 3.2 million acre-feet of Colorado River water through 2028, with Arizona taking the largest share (about 760,000 ac-ft per year, California 440,000 ac-ft, Nevada 50,000 ac-ft), as Lake Mead sits at 31% capacity and Lake Powell at 24% amid record-low snowpack, in a bid to stabilize the river while seven states continue talks on a longer-term deal.
Raleigh Water is activating Stage 1 water-use restrictions effective April 20 due to a severe drought impacting Falls Lake and Swift Creek. The city notes Falls Lake is about 84% full and two secondary supplies (Lake Benson and Lake Wheeler) are near capacity. Restrictions include: outdoor watering only midnight–10 a.m. with odd/even-day rules, hose-end sprinklers limited to 6–10 a.m. or 6–10 p.m. on Tue/Wed, other outdoor uses allowed with restrictions, leaks must be fixed within 48 hours, and tap water can be served by restaurants on request. Indoor use is allowed, with broader efforts to conserve. Raleigh will post weekly drought-and-supply updates as conditions evolve.
Utah aims to refill the shrinking Great Salt Lake by 2034—coinciding with Salt Lake City’s Olympic Games—through policy reforms, water-right transfers, and philanthropy led by Josh Romney; the effort has broad support but faces enormous hurdles, including securing roughly 800,000 acre-feet of water annually, overcoming over-allocated rights, and financing projects that may cost hundreds of millions of dollars, all while drought and toxic dust risks loom.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will unveil the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Standards to govern the rapid data-center boom, requiring developers to fund their own power, hire locally, engage communities with transparency, and meet strict water-conservation rules, with the goal of codifying these criteria into law to speed permitting and secure incentives while addressing energy and environmental concerns.