Efficient Plumbing

The state Senate gave preliminary approval today to a bill to ban the sale of low-efficiency plumbing fixtures by 2016.  That means it would be illegal to sell faucets, and toilets that aren't certified by the federal government as efficient "WaterSense" fixtures.  The bill wouldn't force anyone to change their plumbing, but would say that no new low-efficiency fixtures could be sold after 2016. Current law requires builders to offer water-efficient indoor plumbing fixtures in new homes, but homeowners aren't required to choose them.  Democrats called the bill a necessary water-conservation measure, but Republicans argued the requirement goes too far.

Marijuana Advertisers Limited

Marijuana retailers will only be able to advertise so much. A request from High Times and Westword magazines, to lift Colorado rules limiting ads by recreational marijuana shops was shot down by a federal judge yesterday. The Denver Post reports the judge ruled they don't have grounds to ease regulations because they're not the ones who'll be affected.

More Need Heating Bill Help

More Coloradans are asking for help with their heating bills because of low temperatures this month.
The Department of Human Services says nearly twice as many people applied for assistance from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program.  The program provides help with utility bills through a one-time payment from November to April.  there was a 42 percent increase during the week of Feb. 7, when temperatures dropped below zero. More than 4,000 people applied for LIHEAP assistance during that time period, compared to about 1,800 the week before.

Water Releases from Ruedi Reservoir

Federal water managers have increased water releases from Ruedi (rudy) Reservoir to make way for runoff from deep mountain snows. The Aspen Times reports the reservoir flow into the Frying Pan River was boosted to 168 cubic feet per second from 25 cubic feet per second. Only five times in the past 35 years have releases exceeded 160 cubic feet per second.