The drought currently being experienced throughout Colorado has had a serious impact on water supply and water consumption throughout the state.

With lower than average water levels in Colorado's streams and reservoirs, water providers across the state are looking for ways to reduce water consumption. Centennial Water and Sanitation District, which serves Highlands Ranch, Colo., became the latest municipality to announce a drought response plan.

The plan, announced Monday, includes:

• Asking customers to reduce their water consumption by twenty percent. Customers are being asked to participate in the circles, diamonds, squares program. The program calendar, which follows the same days as others in the metro area, is published at www.highlandsranch.org.
• Beginning May 1, the Metro Districts of Highlands Ranch began a 20 percent reduction in irrigation levels to parks and parkways.
• Recommending a temporary increase to the block rate structure for water rates. The process to review the new temporary rate structure is underway.
• Consideration of an incentive to customers who decrease their water consumption.
• A drought response public education plan is being introduced to help water customers learn how they can make a difference in saving water.

Throughout its history, Highlands Ranch has relied on surface water from the South Platte River for 80 to 90 percent of its water supply. Due to the serious nature of the drought conditions, this year's water supply will come from a combination of well water and surface water.