WESTERN SLOPE, Colo. (KREX) - The Western Slope of Colorado is grappling with an exceptional drought, impacting water usage across the region, particularly in Mesa County.

The Ute Water Conservancy District, the largest domestic water provider on the Western Slope, serves 90,000 customers year-round. Despite the drought, officials are not overly concerned about the water supply due to the dual water system in place, where 95% of water customers use irrigation water for outdoor purposes.

"It is important to note that drought impacts a lot more than just water supply and the availability of water," said Andrea Lopez, external affairs officer with Ute Water Conservancy. "We see an increase in wildfires and the ability for those to spark up. We see really dry soils that could impact how much

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