Denver’s Saving Water — Just Not Nearly Enough

Denver set a goal to cut water usage by 20% this summer.

We’ve managed 5%.

So… we’re a quarter of the way there. Glass half full? Sure. Except the glass should probably be a lot less full right now.

And apparently, not everyone got the memo. Denver Water has received more than 4,700 complaints from residents reporting their neighbors for overwatering. Four. Thousand. Seven hundred.

Denver, we are WATCHING each other.

Look, I get it. Nobody wants a dead lawn. But we live in Colorado — a drought state — and that sprinkler running at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday is not it.

Here’s the thing though: 4,700 complaints means people actually care enough to pick up the phone. That’s something. Now we just need to care enough to also put the hose down.

Denver Water says the 20% goal is still the target, which means the rest of this summer needs to do some serious heavy lifting.

Maybe start by having a little chat with your neighbor. You know — the one with the sprinklers on during a rainstorm.

Denver Water tracks usage and conservation tips at denverwater.org.