Water Use In Colorado

1
Water Use In Colorado

• By
• Travis Hoesli

2
Water Use In Colorado

• Unit Learning Objectives
• Know the different classification of water use In
  Colorado.
• Understand what affects the use of water in
  Colorado today and in the future.
• Explore possible ways to conserve water today and
  in the future.

3
Classification Of Water Use

• Service
• Water that is used to support humans with
  household, business, health, engineering and
  management. Is the largest sector in the water
  economy in Colorado.
• There is approximately 4.4 million people in
  Colorado. Estimated growth in twenty years is to
  6.5 million.
• 2.5 acres feet of water will support 10 people
  or 3-4 homes .
• That same amount of water will irrigate 1 acre
  of cropland.

4
Classification Of Water Use

• Industrial
• Water used for mining, oil and gas and
  refinement.
• Although this sector of water use was the
  driving factor in the development of water in
  Colorado it makes up a small part of water use
  today. The only Affect Industry has of water use
  is from the increase in population due to
  increased jobs.

5
Classification Of Water Use

• Agriculture
• Water that is used for the production of crops
  and livestock.
• There is approximately 66.3 acres of land in
  Colorado. As of 2002 there is 31.3 million acres
  used for farming and ranching. Of that 31.3
  acres 3.4 million acres is used for irrigated
  crops.
• In 1998 approximately 52 of water diverted from
  stream flow was used for Irrigation.
• As population of Colorado continues to grow the
  demand for water used by agriculture will
  continue to grow.

6
Classification of Water Use

• Recreation
• Water used the enjoyment of humans. (swimming,
  boating and fishing)
• This sector of water can be included with
  service use. It is relative small part of water
  usage but has a strong voice in the future of
  Colorado Water.

7
Changing Demand For Water

• As the population begins to grow and the number
  of acres of farmland decrease the demand for
  water will continue to shift focus to the service
  sector.
• There has been a trend of decreasing farm acreage
  over the past ten years. From 1992-1997 the
  farmland was converted at the rate of 270,000
  acres per year. With this change in Colorados
  make up the use of water has and will continue to
  change.

8
Changing Demands For Water

• Recreation will be a driving force in usage
  change.
• With more economic importance being put on
  tourism, people will continue to look to secure
  water for recreational use. One current trend is
  to purchase water for diversion for rafting and
  kayaking.
• Demand for Colorado water will continue to shift
  to service as the population on the Front Range
  continues to go.

9
Water Conservation

• Agriculture has made great strides in
  technologies to conserve water in recent years.
• There has been huge strides in development of
  different center pivot sprinklers.
• Surge Valves has made major differences in flood
  Irrigation.
• Drip line sub Irrigation is the next big
  breakthrough in irrigation technology.

10
Water Conservation

• Service and residential need to have more focus
  on conservation.
• There has been some changes in the focus of
  cities and municipalities. With the drought of
  2002 many of them have imposed water restrictions
  to help conserve water. It is discouraging that
  they have to be mandatory. Most residents of
  cities over water their lawns in the summer.
• There have been some changes with technology to
  reduce the consumption of water at residence.
  Reduced flow shower heads and automatic sprinkler
  systems have proven to lower residential usage.
• New technologies like sub irrigation lawn water
  and alternative landscaping we can continue to
  reduce the amount of water used in the service
  sector.