News Release

For Immediate Release

Subject: Drought Response Information Project (DRIP) Announces Voluntary Water Restrictions

Date:  06-08-2012

Contact: Public Relations Officer Joseph Burtard, Ute Water

Phone:  970-242-7491 (Office), 719-671-7145 (Cell) 
 
In 2004, all four Grand Valley water utilities; City of Grand Junction, Clifton Water District, Town of Palisade and Ute Water collaborated and developed “The Drought Response Information Project”, or DRIP. The DRIP Committee then developed and adopted a Drought Response Plan. The collaboration between the Valley’s four domestic water providers actively responds to the Valley’s drought conditions from year-to-year. DRIP provides information to educate the public about the importance of water conservation and how to reduce water use. This year, drought conditions prominently exist throughout the State of Colorado and water supplies for Western Colorado are in a diminishing situation.

As a result of the current drought conditions, all four water utilities have identified and are announcing that “Stage 1 Drought” conditions exist. This means there are similar conditions as the 2002 drought, but that mandatory restrictions are not called for. There is adequate storage in place today for 2012. However, voluntary Stage 1 Drought restrictions are being requested by all residents and businesses. These voluntary restrictions are important to prevent moving to restrictions that are mandatory.
Government entities are being asked to take a leadership role by examining their water consumption in parks, cemeteries, and public buildings.

Area businesses and residents are being asked to: 
-Serve water in restaurants only upon request. 
-All hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfast establishments to have only showerheads meeting maximum flow rates of 2.5 gallons per minute and faucet aerators meeting maximum flow rates of 2.2 gallons per minute. 
-Reduction of water-cooled air conditioning. 
-Cut back on sidewalk and driveway washing, unless necessary for public health. 
-Use alternative methods to wash vehicles to minimize water waste. 
-Suggest home owners not fill private swimming pools. 
-Turn off ornamental fountains in buildings and parks. 
-Plan for post-drought landscape revival or replacement.

The Drought Response Information Project is asking customers to voluntarily use the suggested water savings ideas (see attached) to reduce water use by 10%. The majority of water used during the summer months is used for outside watering.

The group’s public information and education campaign this year will inform the public about drought conditions and the continuing role it plays in our water usage, now and in the future.

The DRIP Project also maintains a Web site at www.thedripwebsite.com which contains the valley’s Drought Response Plan, information on drought, a current map showing drought areas in the state and Web links to additional information from the CSU Cooperative Extension and all four local water utilities.

For more information on the Drought Response Information Project contact your local water utility or visit the website at www.thedripwebsite.com.   Full News Release