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OPINION: Assuring Water Supplies for Future Subdivisions |
Ben Davis | 4/29/08
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Yesterday, House Bill 1141 passed on second reading in the state Senate. The bill is a long-needed measure to marry decisions on land use and water supply planning in Colorado.
H.B. 1141 provide cities, counties and others making land planning decisions with more complete information on the adequacy of the proposed water supply for a new development. Senator Bob Bacon (D-Ft. Collins) sponsored the bill to help ensure that as Colorado’s population grows homes are built where there is enough water to serve them.
“Everyone agrees that we have no business building new subdivisions where there is no water to supply them,” said Stephanie Thomas of Colorado Environmental Coalition. “This bill will ensure that the folks giving the thumbs up or the thumbs down on those subdivisions have all the facts they need to identify adequate water supplies before new growth is approved.”
 The bill will require developers to submit technical information on the quality, source, dependability and availability of the water source for all new developments containing more than 50 single family homes. “Just as homeowners want to know that their home has a sound foundation and safe wiring, they also deserve to know that when they turn on their taps, water will come out,” said Senator Bacon. “I sponsored this bill to give local governments the tools they need to protect their citizens and their communities.”
“Colorado has a limited water supply and a rapidly growing population. It is only prudent to take steps now to ensure that we have water available to serve the homes that will be built to house this population,” said Chris Treese, from the Colorado River Water Conservation District.
HB 1141 leaves authority over local land use decisions where it belongs — with local governments. It simply empowers those local governments by giving them the tools they need to make the informed decisions they want to make.
“We all want to make the right choices, but we can’t expect to if we can’t see the whole picture,” said Senator Bacon. “That’s really the point of this bill: to give local governments as complete a water supply picture as possible.” |
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