WEEK OF JULY 27, 2023
VOLUME 59 | ISSUE 51
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ADAMS COUNTY FAIR GUIDE • INSIDE THIS ISSUE
How Coloradans can save water at home Experts share tips, insight into water-saving strategies BY SHANNON MULLANE THE COLORADO SUN
Leighty said she and the City Councilors wanted to do something different than the usual State of the City addresses where electeds give a speech. “We wanted it to be about celebration and we wanted it to be about our residents. We wanted you to be really clear about your city services and all of the ways that you can be engaged in your community,” Leighty said.
OK, Coloradans, let’s clear the shampoo out of our eyes: Your shower water is likely connected to the Colorado River water supply crisis. But can you really help by conserving water at home? In recent years, two decades of drought and prolonged overuse have brought the Colorado River Basin’s largest storage reservoirs to the brink of collapse. The crisis is reaching Coloradans’ lives in the form of summer lawn watering restrictions, higher utility bills and even a shortage of Sriracha. Some cities have bought agricultural water rights for more municipal water, and people with junior water rights often have their water supply cut in dry years. Water experts say Colorado residents can help with the crisis, and they have plenty of tips to help the conservation-minded Coloradan start saving water at home. One drawback: In many cases, there’s no guarantee that in-home savings help refill the system’s struggling reservoirs. “It’s like, OK great, our city is now saving 10% of what it was using,” said Gregor MacGregor, a water law expert at the University of Colorado. “The question is, what is your city going to do with that 10%? Are they going to leave it in the Colorado River Basin? Are they going to leave it in a reservoir for
SEE CELEBRATION, P5
SEE WATER, P6
Northglenn Police Chief James May accepts the award for best barbeque at the July 20 State of the City. The police department competed against the Northglenn Fire Department. PHOTO BY LUKE ZARZECKI
Northglenn celebrates accomplishments at State of the City event BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Northglenn residents enjoyed free hot dogs, That Eighties Band and barbeque on the Festival Lawn during a celebration event for the State of the City on July 20. Prior to the presentation, Mayor Meredith Leighty announced the Police Department won the barbeque challenge against the Fire Department. All the money went to the Fallen Firefighter Fund. The event raced against the rain but still prevailed. Staff needed to cancel an acrobatic drone
show but rescheduled it for August 18. A different approach
VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19 | SPORTS: 32
NORTHGLENN-THORNTONSENTINEL.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Landmark 20th
July 28, 29 & 30
Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!
Dancers Welcome!
Free Parking!
EvergreenJazz.org 303-697-5467