As Colorado has faced a historically warm and dry winter, many areas are now under water restrictions.
Denver Water, which serves 1.5 million people in the city and its surrounding suburbs, unanimously approved Stage 1 water restrictions to go into effect March 25. It's the first time that level of restriction has been in place since 2013, according to the utility. Other areas, such as Thornton and Erie, are also under restrictions.
Snowpack as of March 23 was at or near record-lows, according to Denver Water.
Drought
Water restrictions in Colorado: Share your concerns, how you are impacted
"In Denver Water’s decades of records for its watershed collection areas, as of March 23, Colorado River snowpack ranked the worst on record, and the South Platte River snowpack remains ranked at the worst," the agency announced.
The utility depends on that mountain snowpack for its water supply, and said conditions "remain highly concerning."
Here's your guide to some of the restrictions proposed or in-place so far.
This list (in alphabetical order after Denver) was last updated March 31. If you don't see your community listed and want us to look into water restrictions in your area, email us at newstips@denver7.com or fill out the form at the bottom of this story.
Denver
Many surrounding communities, like parts of Lakewood and Littleton, must also follow Denver Water's restrictions (see map below). Arvada also aligns with Denver Water, but mandatory restrictions don't go into effect until the city formally enacts its own rules.
Current level of water restriction: Stage 1 drought
What that means: Lawn watering is limited to two days a week. Residents in single-family homes with addresses ending in even numbers can water Sundays and Thursdays. Those in single-family homes with addresses ending in odd numbers can water Wednesday and Saturday. All other customers, including multifamily properties, commercial properties, homeowners associations and government properties, can water on Tuesdays and Fridays, Denver Water said.
No grass watering is allowed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Trees, shrubs, perennials and vegetables can be watered by hand any day, but not between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Restaurants can only serve water by request and hotels are limited in how often they can wash sheets and towels, unless a wash is requested by a guest.
Check the map below to see if your community falls under Denver Water restrictions.
The full rundown: Get more info on Denver Water's Stage I restrictions here.
Denver7 coverage:
- Denver Water enacts Stage 1 drought restrictions as snowpack hits historic lows | March 25
- Denver restaurants will now only serve water 'upon request' | March 26
- Denver Water's Stage 1 drought restrictions raise concerns over HOA fines for unkempt lawns | March 26
- Rethinking lawns: Denver Botanic Gardens showcases water-smart alternatives | March 26
Drought
Water restrictions in Colorado: Share your concerns, how you are impacted
Arvada
Aligns with Denver Water but will enact its own rules; city also declared a drought March 24.
Current level of water restrictions: Denver Water Stage I restrictions coming; city-declared drought
What that means: Arvada said it aligns with Denver Water (see above), and that residents should start following those restrictions now. The restrictions will become mandatory once the city formally enacts its own rules. The city said it will publish those rules, including the watering schedule for the community, in the coming weeks. The drought declaration allows the city to implement water conservation rules for the next year, according to a city spokesperson.
Residents are encouraged to wait until May to turn on any sprinklers.
The city will also be implementing a plan for parks, golf courses, athletic fields and other outdoor spaces, the spokesperson said.
The full rundown: Get the latest on restrictions in Arvada here.
Aurora
No restrictions in place yet, but restrictions could begin April 7.
Current level of water restriction: Considering Stage I restrictions. If approved, the restrictions begin April 7.
What that means: If approved, lawn watering is limited to two days a week, per the city's water shortage response plan. Residences with addresses ending in an even number can irrigate on Thursdays and Sundays, and residences with odd-numbered addresses can irrigate Wednesdays and Saturdays. New lawn installations are not allowed. Watering gardens, trees, shrubs and perennials is still OK.
Restaurants can only serve water on request.
The full rundown: More information on restrictions and enforcement for each stage can be found here.
Denver7 coverage:
- Aurora weighs water restrictions as drought becomes more dire | March 20
- WATCH: Aurora will resort to fines for customers who violate water restrictions | March 24
Boulder
No restrictions in place yet. The city's website says it will decide whether to declare a drought and implement water use restrictions "on or around" May 1.
Erie
Current level of water restriction: Water Supply Shortage Response Level of 4 – Emergency.
What that means: All residential sprinklers are ordered off through the end of March, the town announced March 20. Most watering at town facilities and properties — such as parks and rec facilities — is also prohibited or limited.
The full rundown: Todd Fesseden, Erie's director of utilities, said in a March 20 announcement that current water demands are typically not seen until late April, when the town receives its summer water allocation.
"If everyone uses irrigation systems now it will drain the system and cause a catastrophic water emergency," he wrote in the March 20 announcement.
Get more details about restrictions at each stage here, or read Fesseden's letter here.
Denver7 coverage:
- Erie directs residents to keep sprinklers off as water demand reaches nearly 30% higher than usual | March 20
Fort Collins-Loveland
No mandatory restrictions in place yet.
Current level of water restrictions: Voluntary watering schedule
What that means: Officials with the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District say even though they have no mandatory restrictions now, they advise residents to abide by watering best practices, including watering lawns no more than three days per week between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. Residential addresses ending in an odd number should water Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; those with addresses ending in an even number should water Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
The full rundown: More information on best watering practices can be found here.
Highlands Ranch
Current level of water restriction: Stage 1
What that means: Outdoor irrigation is limited to two days per week, with odd-numbered addresses allowed to water on Wednesday and Saturday and even-numbered addresses allowed to water on Thursday and Sunday. Multi-family and apartment properties can water on Monday and Friday and non-residential customers can water on Tuesday and Sunday.
Existing water conservation rules are still in effect, which includes no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. between May 1 – Sept. 30. Addtionally, Highlands Ranch Water is asking customers to delay turning on their sprinkler systems until mid-May.
The full rundown: Find more information from Highlands Ranch Water here.
Denver7 coverage:
- Denver7 gets answers after DougCo residents question if county has the water to sustain growth | March 24
Consolidated Mutual Water: parts of Lakewood, Wheat Ridge and unincorporated portions of central Jefferson County
CMWC serves an estimated 100,000 people within a 24-square-mile area. You can check if you're in the service area here.
Current level of water restrictions: Stage Orange
What that means: Lawn watering is limited to two days a week — even-numbered addresses on Sundays and Thursdays, and odd-numbered addresses on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The company also says that rate increases are coming.
Longmont
No mandatory restrictions in place yet.
Current level of water restrictions: The City of Longmont currently does not have any mandatory watering restrictions. Still, city officials strongly encourage all residents to follow suggested voluntary watering restrictions.
What that means: Longmont officials say even though they have no restrictions now, they advise residents to abide by watering best practices, including watering no more than three days per week between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.
The full rundown: More information on best watering practices can be found here and here.
Steamboat Springs and Mt. Werner Water
Current level of water restrictions: Stage 2
What that means: No car washing at residences and no washing driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, or outdoor dining areas. Running decorative outdoor water features and using treated water for dust control are also prohibited. Officials are encouraging folks to keep sprinkler systems off until June 1 and not water more than twice a week (though three days a week is technically allowed). Hand watering is still allowed.
Even-numbered addresses can water on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays; odd-numbered addresses can water Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. No watering is allowed on Wednesdays. Officials said in a release that outdoor irrigation accounts for a third of all water use in Steamboat Springs, and that a Stage 3 drought was "a real possibility."
The full rundown: The full announcement and a link to report water waste can be found here. Learn about water efficiency rebates here.
Thornton
Current level of water restriction: Stage 1
What that means: Sprinklers are not allowed to be turned on until May, but hand-watering is allowed. Lawns should only be watered between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. Trees, shrubs and gardens can still be watered as needed.
The full rundown: Get more information on restrictions and fines here.
Denver 7 coverage:
Westminster
No mandatory restrictions currently.
Current level of restrictions: Drought watch goes into effect April 15.
What that means: There are not mandatory restrictions during a drought watch for Westminster, but city officials are asking community members to voluntarily conserve water by watering their lawns no more than three days a week, watering before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. and checking irrigation systems for leaks.