DENVER — The city Water Board took steps last week to force conservation, including surcharges on bills and a ban on washing cars at home.
Everything from washing your car in the driveway to getting a change of sheets at a motel will be affected by the new steps to deal with Colorado's worsening drought, the Rocky Mountain News reported.
"All of Colorado is in the midst of the worst drought in modern history, meaning from about 1900," said Chips Barry, manager of the water agency. "Summer is coming to an end, but, unfortunately, the drought is not."
Denver Water, which serves 1.1 million metro-area residents and several dozen Front Range water districts, is the largest municipal water supplier in the state, the article said.
The home washing ban will go into effect October 1, the newspaper said, when all outdoor watering will be banned, except for trees and shrubs.
Personal vehicles can be cleaned only at commercial carwashes certified by Denver Water, the article said.
The washing of vehicles contained in fleets or being offered for sale or rent will be allowed only by permit, water officials said, and permits will limit washing to no more often than once per week, unless public safety requires more frequent washing.
The board also doubled the penalties for ignoring the restrictions. Fines will range from $100 to $500, and chronic violators could have devices placed on their line to restrict flow, allowing only enough water for drinking and bathing, the newspaper said.
The new measures will remain in effect until Denver Water's reservoirs reach 80 percent of capacity.
The newspaper said an average snowpack in the coming winter may bring the reservoirs up to 75 percent of capacity, raising the possibility that even stricter rules will go into effect in the spring if the drought continues.
Using a panel of experienced, dedicated and passionate experts in a wide variety of car care specialties, PC&D is able to help its readers find answers to everyday questions, as well as more unusual ones.
Simply use the links below to direct your question toward the appropriate expert(s), and PC&D will send it on to a member of its Advisory Board or an expert in the subject's field.
PC&D's Editor in Chief, Kate Carr, welcomes ideas, comments and suggestions for making the magazine the best it can be for its readers. If you're interested in submitting an article or want to suggest a topic, please contact Kate at (518) 779 - 1667, kcarr@carwash.com.
The magazine accepts articles from a variety of consultants and industry experts. We favor a "how-to" approach that helps readers solve problems or improve business. Pieces promoting manufacturing companies or their products are not appropriate.
Article submissions typically contain 750 to 1,500 words. If accepted for publication, articles will be edited for style, clarity and length.
