AURORA — After heavy rains this spring, Colorado was recently drought-free for the first time in two decades. But even with water reserves bolstered and gardens in full bloom, blazing heat is bringing back dry conditions, and many Coloradans are staying focused on conserving water for the future.
To support the consortium’s research, the new law also requires oil and gas companies to report more information on how they use and dispose of water. The industry uses most of that water for hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, whereby a mix of freshwater, sand and chemicals is injected into a well at high pressure to open cracks in the rock below, releasing oil and gas.
Dan Haley, who represents the state’s oil and gas industry as the head of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, said companies are eager to join the state in its new water conservation efforts.