Water Conservation and Protection

The City of Durango Public Works Department oversees water, wastewater, and stormwater management.

Be Water Smart

• Install WaterSense certified fixtures and appliances - the EPA WaterSense website has a lot of great additional information on how to save water.
• The City of Durango Utilities Division offers saving tips and to find out what steps you can take to be Water Smart.
• Fix drips and leaks in your home.
• Re-consider and reduce wasteful water habits like running the faucet continually to defrost frozen meat, while washing dishes, or brushing your teeth.
• Run full loads in your dishwasher and clothes washing machine.

Water-Wise Landscaping and Smart Irrigation

For many homes, more than half of total water consumption is related to outdoor irrigation and water use.

• Utilize water-wise landscaping or xeriscaping. While there is some up-front cost associated with converting, this switch can save thousands of gallons of water and hundreds of dollars a year in water costs. The CSU Extension Master Gardener site has excellent resources on water-wise and drought tolerant landscaping.
• Water plants and lawns in the late evening or early morning - this saves water and is better for the plants.
• Adjust sprinklers to minimize water landing on sidewalks, the driveway, or street.
• The City of Durango Water Utilities page has information on smart irrigation systems.
• Durango's water-efficient landscape ordinance

Water Quality

• Be considerate of potential water runoff pollution from yard care, pet waste, and car washing. The City of Durango Stormwater Management page has more information.
• Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) deposits can cause backups in our sewer system that lead to sanitary issues and high maintenance costs. Never pour grease down the drain. Restaurant and food-service workers should review all guidelines and regulations on the FOG program .
• Contact the City of Durango Water Utilities department if you are concerned about the water quality at your home or business, or if you suspect you have a problem with backflow or cross connection contamination.

Additional Information & Resources

• The City of Durango Utilities Division has information on where we get our drinking water, the community Water Master Plan, Drought Management Plan, water and sewer rate studies, and the Vulnerability, Consequences, and Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) report.
• Stormwater Master Plan guides implementation and management of Colorado Discharge Permit System MS4 Permit.
• Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility (wastewater treatment).
• Our Animas: Watershed + Community = Resilience (PDF)
• Our Animas: Watershed + Community = Resilience (storymap)
• Water Information Program (WIP)