Plan for waterwise growth

Buffalo is at a crossroads.

In order to staff our schools, public services, hospitals, hospitality businesses and more, we need a certain number of working- age adults living in the community. And those people need homes to live in.

New housing developments are being proposed, new homes are being built, and community leaders continue to discuss how to accommodate future growth. But it also raises an important question: Where will the water come from?

For generations, Buffalo has benefited from a reliable water supply fed by Clear Creek and supported by a well-managed municipal water system. Yet recent years have reminded us that water is a finite, precious resource. Water managers throughout the West are increasingly being forced to balance growth with conservation.

That reality makes planning more important than ever.

Every new subdivision, apartment complex and housing development adds demand to the system. While each individual home may not use a large amount of water, the cumulative impact of dozens of new residences can be significant. It is far easier — and far less expensive — to incorporate water-wise design into a development from the beginning than it is to retrofit neighborhoods years later.

The city of Buffalo should carefully evaluate the long-term water demands of any proposed housing development. That does not mean stopping growth. It means ensuring that growth occurs responsibly.

Developers should be encouraged, and perhaps eventually required, to incorporate drought-tolerant landscaping, efficient irrigation systems and lot designs that reduce outdoor water use. Communities across the West have adopted such measures without sacrificing attractive neighborhoods or property values. In fact, many homebuyers increasingly appreciate landscapes that require less watering and maintenance.

The city should also continue to examine whether current ordinances adequately address outdoor water use and whether those ordinances are adequately enforced. During the heat of summer, lawns often consume far more water than households use indoors. Small changes in landscaping expectations can produce substantial savings across an entire community.

Residents have a role to play as well. That includes watering only on assigned days, watering at dusk or dawn (when less water evaporates) and reducing wasted water by ensuring that water is not being applied to paved surfaces.

The challenge is not unique to Buffalo. Communities throughout the West are wrestling with the same questions. The communities that succeed will be those that plan ahead rather than react after shortages emerge.

The decisions made today about housing developments, landscaping standards and water use will shape the community for decades to come. New housing is needed. But growth and stewardship must go hand in hand.

Water has always been one of Buffalo’s most valuable assets. As our community continues to grow, protecting that resource should remain one of our highest priorities.

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