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. 

August 17, 2026 Quote from Denver Water Manager of Demand Planning - 

"We received some welcome rainstorms, but drought conditions remain firmly in place. At Denver International Airport, the year-to-date precipitation deficit is still 4.24 inches. The storms were highly localized rather than widespread, limiting their overall hydrologic benefit. 

Our storage reservoirs, which rely on mountain snowpack, are so far behind that it is clear we’ll need to take additional steps in response to drought conditions worsening this summer, so Denver Water is looking at ending lawn watering season on Oct. 1. 

If the board approves this recommendation, which is expected to be considered later in August, it would mean that customers can only hand-water trees and plants, and will be required to turn off spray irrigation systems after Sept. 30. 

If you are the only one on your block with a green lawn, you might want to revisit your watering practices, as your overuse is compounding the impacts of this historic drought on our water storage supplies. We’re asking everyone to care more and water less, so we don’t have to take more drastic steps in the future, which could create more damaging impacts to our landscapes. Our reservoirs are projected to be only 60% full next spring — every drop saved goes a long way in helping us stretch our water supplies."

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.

Mandatory outdoor watering restrictions are now in effect. 

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. 

 If it rains, you can skip one or even two of your days.

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 10-40% of normal in 2026.
• Reservoir storage conditions are below average; As of August 17, 2026, reservoirs were 73% full, versus an average of 95% 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