See the places in the Denver area and Northern Colorado where watering restrictions are in place, or could be soon
For the first time since 2013, Denver Water has enacted stage 1 drought restrictions. Residents should only use water outside their homes twice a week. Those days are based on address number. Restaurants will also only serve water when customers request it. The goal is to reduce average customer usage by 20%.
Denver is among other Front Range cities like Aurora, Castle Rock, Elizabeth and Thornton that have some sort of watering restrictions in place. Boulder, Fort Collins and Loveland are set to decide soon if they will enact any watering restrictions.
See more about each municipality's situation in the Denver area and in Northern Colorado below.
Denver
Denver Water customers are under Stage 1 drought restrictions. Residents are instructed to limit water use outside homes to twice a week. Single-family residential properties are instructed to follow a set schedule based on their address number. Addresses ending with an even number are instructed to water on Sundays and Thursdays. Residents with addresses ending with an odd number are instructed to water Wednesdays and Saturdays. All other customers, including multifamily properties, commercial properties, homeowners associations and government properties, may water only on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Customers must request water at restaurants.
Denver Water's reservoir storage is 80% full, that's compared to 85% full average for this time of year.
The goal of Stage 1 restrictions is to reduce water use by 20% this year, which will help preserve reservoir storage going into 2027.
This declaration marks the fifth time since 2000 that Denver Water has issued a Stage 1 drought, and the first since 2013. Prior to 2013, the board declared a Stage 1 drought in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
Denver Water customers are facing new rates for water usage. The board of Denver Water approved temporary drought pricing on April 8. Customers will be put on a tiered system where the more water that's used, the more money they pay.
Denver water shortage plan: denverwater.org
Arvada
The City of Arvada is limiting lawn watering to two days a week. The schedule is based on the address number of your home. Link: Arvada water shortage plan
Aurora
Aurora City Council approved Stage 1 water restrictions on April 7, effective immediately.
Aurora's water response plan is similar to that of Denver, with outside watering limited to two days a week. Single-family residential properties with addresses ending in an even number are instructed to irrigate on Thursdays and Sundays. Single-family residential properties with addresses ending in an odd number are permitted to water on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Aurora Water is asking residents to reduce their outside water consumption by 20%.
Water at restaurants is only served by request.
New lawn installations are not allowed.
No filling of private swimming pools is allowed; however, topping off is allowed.
Link: Aurora water shortage plan
Thornton
Stage 1 water restrictions - moderate to severe
Residents asked to wait to turn on sprinkler systems until May. Hand watering with a hose before May 1 is permitted. Residents asked to limit turf watering to two days a week.
Thornton drought response plan: thorntonwater.com/restrictions-drought/
Boulder
No water response, yet. City is monitoring conditions in watershed while managing water resources and reservoirs. City will decide whether to declare a drought and implement water use restrictions around May 1.
Boulder water information: bouldercolorado.gov/services/drought-watch-program
Brighton
Brighton is under Stage 1 drought restrictions and irrigation is limited to two days per week under a specific schedule. The city's Utilities Director Scott Olsen said "we're taking deliberate, proactive steps alongside other Front Range communities." Get more information at brightonco.gov.
Erie
Water Supply Shortage Response Level 4 - Emergency.
All residential sprinklers must stay off through the end of March. Parks and Recreation cease irrigation with exception to trees and priority athletic fields. Irrigation may also be prohibited with exception to trees. City hopes to reduce water use by 45%.
Erie drought information: erieco.gov/drought & erieco.gov/drought#docaccess...
Fort Collins-Loveland
No mandatory restrictions. Water district recommends residents are conservative with water use, don't water lawns more than three days a week. Fort Collins- Loveland drought Information: fclwd.com
Highlands Ranch
Watering restrictions are now in place for Highlands Ranch residents. The goal is to reduce water use by 15-20%. Get more information at highlandsranchwater.org
Lone Tree
Residents in the City of Lone Tree are under watering restrictions due to "historic warm temperatures and low snowpack." This includes residents in the Southgate Water and Sanitation District, the Parker Water and Sanitation District and the Northern Douglas County Water and Sanitation District. Get more information at cityoflonetree.com.
Longmont
No mandatory restrictions. Sustainable Conservation Level - Drought Watch in place.
Residents are encouraged to continue practicing water efficiency and reduce outdoor watering.
Longmont drought information: longmontcolorado.gov/water/
Morrison
Outdoor watering in Morrison is limited to no more than two days per week in the Town of Morrison. Get more information at morrisonco.us.