Water Facts

Northern Colorado Water Facts

Colorado River north inlet into Grand Lake

The water from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project originates in the headwaters of the Colorado River.

Aerial view of Horsetooth Reservoir

If Horsetooth Reservoir was filled with soda pop instead of water, it would take 548 billion 12-ounce cans.

Sprinkler head watering lawn

More than half of all the water used in and around the home goes to keep lawns green.

On average in Northern Colorado, each person uses 160 gallons of water daily (inside and outside the house).

The average annual precipitation in Northern Colorado is about 15 inches.

Colorado Water Facts

Snow covered Lake Granby

An estimated 80 percent of Colorado's water supply originates as snowpack.

Four major rivers – the Colorado, Platte, Arkansas and Rio Grande – originate in Colorado.

Most of Colorado's precipitation falls on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains.

Blue Mesa Reservoir near Gunnison is the largest water body in Colorado; until it was built, Lake Granby held that title.

Grand Lake in summer time

Grand Lake is the largest natural lake in Colorado.

Interesting Water Facts

Water is the most common substance found on Earth. 

A gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. 

Cold water freezes faster than hot water, but when hot water is used to make ice, the ice is clearer. 

Water becomes less dense when it freezes hence ice cubes float in a glass of water.

The total amount of water in the world remains constant – only its elemental form changes. 

An average shower uses 25 to 50 gallons of water. 

About 1 percent of the Earth's water is suitable for drinking. 

Water is the only substance found naturally on earth in all elemental forms - solid, liquid and gas.