Latest Updates

Recycled Plastic Roads Pave the Way to More sustainable Infrastructure

It’s not often you can help solve two of the world’s problems with a single solution. Dutch startup PlasticRoad, however, is doing just that. To tackle both plastic pollution and climate change, the company is producing the next generation of sustainable infrastructure: roads made out of recycled plastic.

Culvert Lining Training

Develops an understanding for how to correctly assess damaged and failing storm system infrastructure as well as provides guidance for inspection and lining projects

Water-Saving Technology You Should Care About

Did you know 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, but only 1% of that is available for humans to use?

The pace of our global society is moving too fast for water to fulfill its potential as a renewable resource. We have made fresh water into a finite resource. Water resources, like groundwater, are being depleted because they aren’t able to recharge at the same rate of our growing population and increased agricultural activity. Basically, we consume water at a highly unsustainable and concerning rate.

Water Saving Tips

Making simple changes to your water use behavior can save lots of water. If we all reduced the amount of water we use by even a small amount, we could make a huge difference to our total consumption. Here are just a few practical tips to help you save water in and around your home.

Only Wash with a Full Load

Use your washing machine only when you have a full load. Reducing your washing by just one load a week will save around 32 gallons of water.

Replace Your Toilet

EPA awards Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment grant funding to prevent pollution

Denver, CO (September 23, 2020) – Today, during Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, the U.S.

Questions and Answers About Drought and Water Conservation

Q.  How much water do landscapes use in California?
A.  Landscape irrigation accounts for only about 9% of total statewide developed water use, but the percentage varies widely among communities.  Water applied to landscapes is estimated to account for about 50% of residential water consumption statewide, but the amount varies from about 30% in some coastal communities to 60% or more in many inland suburban communities.

2020 Bike Tour Final Report

The Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Watershed Association (BMW) in collaboration with the Colorado Stormwater Council (CSC) and the City and County of Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI), created a virtual bike tour for 2020.  The tour went ‘live’ and was posted to YouTube on June 23rd.   Registration was free for all participants.

E&O Committee Update - Trashcan Cleaning

There are cleaning instructions printed on most curbside trashcans (see image attached) that may be misleading so we are encouraging CSC members to adopt the following Residential and Commercial Tips to avoid encouraging residents to rinse their trash cans on the curbside as pollutants such as e-Coli, harsh cleaners, oils, etc may impact water quality.

Residential Tip:

E&O Committee Update - FACEBOOK Account!!

The Colorado Stormwater Council has a FACEBOOK account! Please help us spread the word. Thank you to Heather Otterstetter with Westminster for creating the account and volunteering to administrate it. Please send any publishing requests to her directly.

TRAC Committee Update - MHFD's Videos!

Check MHFD’s videos related to minimum water quality design standards for Phase II Permittees. This is a great tool for your development review team:

Permit Standards video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tdw2Cr_6mg

Redesigned Iron-enhanced Ditch Checks Could Help Filter Pollutants from Stormwater Runoff

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is exploring innovative ways to filter pollutants from stormwater runoff and meet permit requirements for construction projects. In a recent study, U of M researchers documented the performance of an iron-enhanced ditch check filter to remove phosphates from stormwater. They found that the filter was effective, though its performance decreased over time.

Major South Platte River Basin Project Would Maximize Reuse of Western Slope Water

DENVER — A multibillion-dollar reservoir and pipeline project may one day pull more than 50,000 acre-feet of water per year from the South Platte River before it reaches Nebraska. That’s more than 16 billion gallons of water, enough to fill 25,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Stay On The Jobsite - National Association of Home Builders

The safety and health of all those who work in construction remains the top priority for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The industry continues to adhere to all public health guidelines set forth by OSHA and the CDC. Work on a new unfinished home site occurs primarily outdoors and does not involve going onto a location occupied by residents or a public location, and there is minimal (if any) physical or transactional contact with customers.

Archaeologists explore ancient stormwater tunnels beneath Pompeii

In southern Italy, the pristinely preserved remains of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii have mystified historians and archaeologists since they were rediscovered nearly 300 years ago. Ongoing expeditions continue to reveal new details about the city and its people, believed to have been decimated by the sudden eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius around 79 CE.

Marble quarry operators violated Clean Water Act

MARBLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that the operators of a local marble quarry violated the Clean Water Act when they diverted a tributary of the Crystal River to make way for a mining road.