Overview
- The Denver Board of Water Commissioners voted Wednesday to amend its Stage 1 drought rules and make Oct. 1 the mandatory cutoff date for lawn sprinkler irrigation until the board votes to resume watering.
- Denver Water staff cite natural streamflow of 95,000 acre-feet from April through July, about 22% of normal and the lowest in 110 years, and supply reservoirs at roughly 72% of capacity versus a historic median of 94%.
- After Oct. 1 customers may water trees, shrubs, perennials and vegetables only with a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle or low-volume non-spray systems while spray irrigation of lawns will be prohibited; recycled-water users and approved variances for high‑use fields are exceptions.
- Denver Water says customers have cut overall use by only about 7% against a 20% goal, the utility has received roughly 6,000 violation reports this season that produced about 800 warnings or fines, and enforcement begins with a $250 first monetary penalty.
- The utility estimates the ban could reduce strain on supplies and help avoid stricter Stage 2 limits while projecting about a $75 million revenue impact and warning the move has already raised neighbor tensions and complications for mixed irrigation systems.