Aspen’s outdoor water waste can impact Roaring Fork River

The city of Aspen is offering free irrigation assessments for the summer to assist Aspen water customers in conserving water, a critical way to help protect the Roaring Fork River.

One of the biggest water wasters in Aspen is outdoor irrigation water use, according to Caroline Moore, sustainability programs analyst for the city. Aspen uses its municipal water supply for irrigation use, which primarily comes from Castle Creek and Maroon Creek.

“These creeks flow into the Roaring Fork River … which eventually connects to the Colorado River,” Moore said. “Pulling water that isn’t actually used to water your lawn is taking away from those rivers; the Colorado River in particular is really struggling.”

Aspen has contracted a team of certified water-efficient landscapers, who have provided irrigation analysis with this program for the past five years, to visit properties and conduct comprehensive assessments including sprinkler head evaluations, repair needs identifications, and efficiency opportunity suggestions. 

“They are a duo from the Front Range that are very much rooted in water efficiency standards that align with the values of the Aspen community,” Moore said. “They have contributed to so many different programs in the community and beyond,” including in Snowmass and in Eagle County.

Those who opt for the assessments will also receive a customized report of their current irrigation system with recommended improvements, which will include a list of local landscapers who can assist with needed fixes. Aspen is offering 50% rebates up to $2,500 for water customers that make these improvements, which can be applied as credit to their water bill. 

“The upgrades and taking advantage of the rebate opportunity is so important,” Moore said. “That’s where you can make the most impact as a community member.”

She also noted that, through four summers with the program, she’s seen much of the water that’s wasted has easy, quick fixes, like updating times to water, installing a rain sensor, and turning or upgrading nozzles.

The summer assessment program has been running since 2017. Sign-ups are currently open, with appointments available June 3, July 1, and Aug. 6.

“If you start walking around Aspen when people have their irrigation system going, you can see a lot of overspray,” Moore said, which she explained is when sprinklers hit the sidewalk, street, or side of the house instead of the grass and plants. “It affects us, and it affects the greater water supply.”

Overwatering a lawn can also lead to other consequences, including causing local plants and grass roots to shorten and weaken. She said it can be just as bad, if not worse, as not watering enough.