WATER

ese systems capture grey water — the runo from showers, bathroom sinks and laundry machines — and then use it for other purposes, like watering ornamental plants outside or ushing toilets, at the same location. is water can contain dirt, oil, greases, lint and possibly human pathogens, so don’t use it to drink or water your vegetables, experts say.

Laundry-to-landscape systems installed by homeowners, which capture washing machine water for outdoor irrigation, can cost as little as $350, said Jon Novick, the environmental administrator for the Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.

Whole house systems pipe water from showers and bathroom sinks through a treatment process and then send it to toilets to provide water for ushing. e system alone can cost $6,000 to $8,000, not including installation costs, so they’re more feasible for new houses or developments with multiple units, Novick said. ey’re often cost prohibitive for existing homes.

ese systems also come with a catch: Local governments need water rights that allow for reuse, which limits the adoption of grey water programs, and new installations are only legal if the local government has o cially approved grey water reuse. People with pre-existing systems should check with their local programs to see if their system can be grandfathered in.

As of July, six local governments have approved grey water reuse, including the city and county of Denver, Pitkin County, Fort Collins, Grand Junction and Golden.

ose who draw water from wells will need to check their permits. Exempt well permits, for example, do not allow reuse of indoor water for plaint.

“Bianca” later learned from a GEO sta member that the woman, who likely needed access to mental health treatment, had threatened to harm herself and sta members.

Instead of providing mental health treatment to the woman making the threats, sta became concerned for themselves and said they were not interested in risking their lives, according to the complaint.

After her attorney reached out to the facility, “Bianca” was moved to a dif- outdoor irrigation.

If a grey water system saves 25 gallons per day and is installed in 500,000 homes, it could save 14,000 acre-feet per year. at’s enough water to supply 28,000 homes, Novick said.

But the counties that have approved grey water ordinances have seen little uptake. As of June, Denver had approved 30 systems; Castle Rock, 29 systems; and Pitkin County, zero, according to each county’s program manager.

Whether water e ciency measures translate into conservation in the Colorado River Basin depends on factors ranging from where a resident lives to local water management decisions.

Water pulled from the Colorado River Basin on the Western Slope never returns to the basin. Front Range residents could use less water in the hope that more water could stay on the Western Slope, but there are no incentives for Front Range water providers to give up such a valuable resource because of water savings, said MacGregor, the water law expert at CU.

“Anyone who pockets (water) savings can make a ton of money by selling those savings to another water user,” he said. “ e question is, what is the mechanism for leaving water on the Western Slope through conservation?”

Even if a water e ciency program is enormously successful, cities and towns can still choose to use their water savings toward building new developments, rather than leaving them in reservoirs.

“ is is the really frustrating part of what’s happened in a lot of areas. It’s like, you look at it, and e ciency has increased per capita, use has decreased over time, but we’re still susceptible to drought,” MacGregor said. “It’s because we’re not actually banking those savings.”

If at-home water e ciency measures are adopted widely, and the ferent dorm. unused water is conserved for the future, those savings can help storage at local reservoirs and even help meet environmental and ecological needs by keeping more water in streams. It could even be used by downstream water rights holders who might have their supply cut o earlier in a dry year. at would require complicated, interstate legal and administrative procedures — an option being explored by Colorado.

A man, “Mateo,” said he spent 15 days in solitary con nement after he defended himself when he was attacked in his dorm by another detained person.

Sta removed him from the dorm for a short time to conduct a proceeding where he was found guilty of engaging in the ght. He asked GEO sta to check video cameras to con rm that he did not cause the ght. But in the complaint, he said he doesn’t know if they ever did.

But there’s no guarantee that the water will reach the Colorado River’s main storage reservoirs, like Lake Powell on the Utah-Arizona border.

Experts are adamant: Residents should still try to use water e ciently at home.

If Colorado residents are more ecient in their water use, then cities and towns could pull less water from rivers and streams on the front end, which leaves water in the stream for others.

“ICE and GEO didn’t do anything to protect me,” he said in the complaint. “ ere were cameras recording the incident but no one … ever talked with me about what happened.” is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Landscapes could be better able to withstand wet and dry years with the addition of native plants. Treatment plants spend less money on treating water before releasing it, which could help with water bills, experts say.

“ is isn’t a situation that there’s going to be one thing that’s going to solve the problem. It’s more of a case of incremental change, so every little bit helps,” Novick said. “If you’re saving a gallon of water by taking a shorter shower, or two gallons of water — if everyone were to do that … all of that would add up. We have to think of this more holistically.” is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

On the stage, under the lights, the room was joyful — optimistic City Council President Jamie Torres hosted the inauguration ceremony, listing some of the incoming City Council’s notable milestones. This will be the first Council with six Latinas and the first two out Black LGBTQ councilmembers. Women will make up a supermajority on Council, holding nine of the 13 seats.

“This, coincidentally, is the number needed to override a mayoral veto,” Torres said.

“Everyone on this stage is here today because as community members we felt compelled to serve, to solve problems and to find solidarity for improvement somewhere in the city,” Torres said. “And I know we can, because we have, and because it’s the only way that we have moved forward on some of the most dire issues and for our often overlooked and underserved communities.”

The new Council includes Amanda Sandoval of District 1, Kevin Flynn of District 2, Jamie Torres of District 3, Diana Romero Campbell of District 4, Amanda Sawyer of District 5, Kashmann of District 6, Flor Alvidrez of Dis - trict 7, Shontel Lewis of District 8, Darrell Watson of District 9, Chris Hinds of District 10, Stacie Gilmore of District 11 and at-large councilmembers Sarah Parady and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez.

Paul Lopez has returned as Clerk and Recorder, and Tim O’Brien is still the auditor.

Environmental activist and former mayoral candidate Ean Thomas Tafoya read a statement acknowledging Denver was built on the traditional territory of the Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho people.

“We’ve made progress in recent memory: the removal of the statutes to educate the people of the horrors of the Doctrine of Discovery and manifest destiny,” Tafoya said. “We’re renaming spaces and places and sharing our bison herd to heal the land and our relationships. It is through indigenous knowledge that we have the best opportunity to mitigate and prepare for climate change. We acknowledge there is more to do, and we reaffirm our efforts here today.”

Rick Williams, who is Lakota and Cheyenne, offered a prayer and reminded the audience that his great, great grandfathers spent many winters camped along Cherry Creek.

“Our new leader has a difficult road ahead,” Williams prayed.

“Please help him.”

Hancock — who opened his remarks by asking, “Are we done yet?” — celebrated the peaceful and orderly transfer of power. He told Johnston, “Go out there and do great things.”

After all the candidates were sworn in, Poet Laureate Bobby LeFebre read a poem grilling Johnston.

“Are you comfortable unlearning? Are you willing to unravel indoctrination? Can we dissolve the status quo? What do you know of collectivism? Do you believe in more than yourself?” LeFebre asked. “Can you commit to common cause? Can you be unbound by what is? The master’s tools still will not dismantle the master’s house. We need new tools. To analyze is to take things apart. To imagine is to put them together. What if? Why not open the door to possibility, leave no one behind, let us build the best city in the world. One fist, one idea, one person, one action, one need, one day at a time.”

Then Johnston addressed the crowd, describing the city’s struggles, his dreams for Denver and the work ahead

“Our dream of Denver is when you land at your lowest, without a job or a place to stay, shackled by addiction or struggling with mental illness, we will not judge you or abandon you, and we will not give up on you,” Johnston said. “We will get you a home. We will get you help. We will get you healed.”

Johnston said he’s dedicated to “two essential American ideas: Every problem we face is solvable, and we are the ones to solve them.”

He also pushed the people of Denver to get involved.

“Those of us on this stage swore an oath today, but for us to succeed, every Denverite must take their own oath, an oath to dream, serve, and deliver,” he said. “To dream a Denver bold enough to include all of us, to serve our city above ourselves, to march on, shoulder to shoulder, undeterred by failure, until we deliver results. That is our oath.”

He concluded the speech with an instruction: “Now, lets get to work!”

So what’s next?

In the immediate sense, City Councilmembers had to prepare for a scheduled meeting, and Johnston had to meet with city workers and eventually get ready for Denver Vibes Festival, the official inauguration party at Union Station.

Thu 8/03

Sat 8/05

Denver Broncos @ 9am

Centura Health Training Center, 13655 E. Broncos Pkwy., Englewood

Lions on the Links Golf Tournament (LHS Athletics Fundraiser Event) @ 1pm / $175

Arrowhead Golf Course, 10850 Sundown Trail, Littleton. mtoner@ lps.k12.co.us

Cooking with Elle @ 3pm

Aug 3rd - Aug 31st

Heather Gardens Clubhouse, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora

Douglas County Bulls, Broncs and Bares - Rough Stock

PRCA Rodeo

@ 6pm / $5-$30

Douglas County Fairgrounds, 500 Fairgrounds Dr, Castle Rock

Fri 8/04

The King Stan Band in Paradise

@ 6pm

Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Mead‐ows Dr, Lone Tree

Madeline Hawthorne Music: Bands in the Beer Garden @ Breckenridge Brewery

Littleton @ 3pm Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Ln, Littleton

Featured Featured

Tunisia: The Canyons Concert @ 5:30pm

The Canyons (Info Center), 1415 Westbridge Dr, Castle Pines

Sun 8/06

Korey Foss: Rock Candy Sunday Funday @ 12pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Uncle Kracker @ 5:30pm

Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village

Wed 8/09

Vamonos Pest/Mobro:

Vamonos Pest plays Brewabil‐ity to celebrate Englewood

H.S. Class of 1983 Reunion @ 4:30pm

Brewability Lab, 3445 S Broadway, Englewood

Visible Planets @ 6pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

6 Million Dollar Band: Private Event @ 6:30pm

Cherry Hills Village Community Develop‐ment, 2450 E Quincy Ave, Englewood

Sean Kelly Of The Samples: TBA @ 7pm TBA, Parker

Deb Seymour Music: House Concert- Littleton, CO @ 1pm

House Concert - Littleton, CO, Lit‐tleton

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden

Bingo - Tailgate Tavern & Grill @ 7pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Mon 8/07

Advanced Double-Handed Sailing Camp | Week 10 @ 8am / $467

Aug 7th - Aug 11th

Cherry Creek Reservoir, 4800 S Dayton St, Greenwood Village. 303-757-7718

ZZ Top @ 5:30pm

Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Greenwood Village

Anne Luna: The Hard Road Trio in Highlands Ranch @ 3pm House Concert, Highlands Ranch

Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Thu 8/10

Chris Janson with special guest Shane Pro�tt @ 6pm / $50-$70

The Amphitheater at Philip S. Miller Park, 1375 W Plum Creek Pkwy, Castle Rock