Denver Water has declared a Stage 1 Drought.  Stage 1 drought means Denver Water and the District are asking customers to reduce their total water use (outdoor and indoor) by at least 20%, which will help preserve water levels in reservoirs and help avoid the need to increase restrictions later this summer. The District is a master meter distributor of Denver Water and follows Denver Water’s rules. 

Mandatory outdoor watering restrictions are now in effect. 

Keep automatic sprinkler systems off until mid to late May. There is no need to turn on automatic systems until at least mid- to late-May, or later if possible. It is not necessary to water grass two days a week in April and the beginning of May, which will help save water.

Occasional hand-watering may be necessary for trees and shrubs during this time. Trees, shrubs, and perennials may be watered any day by means of a hand-held hose or low-volume non-spray irrigation, but not between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Keep an eye on the weather and let Mother Nature do the watering with spring rains.

The District Board of Directors approved new temporary drought pricing on April 21, 2026. The drought pricing will apply starting with May water use (reflected in June bills) and will be in effect  until further action by the board.  Tier 1 usage covers typical indoor water usage and will not see an increase due to drought pricing, tiers 2, 3, and 4 drought pricing is shown in the table below.

This summer, customers in single-family residential properties may water no more than two days per week and must follow a set schedule:

• Residential addresses ending in even numbers: Sunday and Thursday.
• Residential addresses ending in odd numbers: Wednesday and Saturday.

All other customers, including multifamily properties, commercial properties, homeowners associations and government properties: Tuesday and Friday.

• Customers must follow their assigned watering days.
• Lawns may be watered no more than two days per week.
• Lawn watering is only allowed before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. 

Snowpack and water supply update

• In Denver Water’s collection system, the 2025-26 snowpack peaked more than a month earlier than normal and at the lowest levels observed in the past 40 years:
  • Colorado River Basin: Snowpack peaked March 18, 2026 at 58% of normal, the second-earliest date and second-lowest peak on record. (Typical peak date is April 24.) 
  • South Platte River Basin: Snowpack peaked March 17, 2026, at 42% of normal, the second-earliest date and the lowest peak on record. (Typical peak date is April 26.)
• Snowpack and melting conditions are unprecedented, with accelerated melting seen since mid-March. Customers need to save water to protect the supply we have right now.
• Streamflow forecasts are calling for runoff levels to be 10-30% of normal in 2026.
• Reservoir storage conditions are below average; As of May 11, 2026, reservoirs were 79% full, versus an average of 85% full for this time.

Please go to the following link on the Denver Water website for more information and to view watering days and watering rules: https://www.denverwater.org/residential/rebates-and-conservation-tips/summer-watering-rules