Aurora will be in a Stage 1 Water Shortage and enforcement will be more strict this year, the city said.

AURORA, Colo. — The City of Aurora will be under new water restrictions beginning Tuesday, nearly a month earlier than the city typically enacts seasonal watering restrictions. 

On Monday night, Aurora City Council voted unanimously to declare a Stage 1 Water Shortage. The city said that enforcement will be stricter this year.

Under the new restrictions, sprinkler use would be limited to two days per week on scheduled days and there would be no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., as the water evaporates more quickly. To find which days you’re assigned, you can visit the city’s Watering Times page.

With the restrictions, people also won’t be able to fill up backyard pools, there will be no water features, like fountains, and restaurants will only be allowed to serve water by request.

Currently, for the first violation, people will receive warnings. But if caught watering more than twice a week or watering during the time restriction, you’ll get an immediate violation. The second violation will result in a $250 fine, and the third violation will result in a $1,000 fine.

For commercial users, the second violation will result in a $500 fine, and the third violation will be a $2,000 fine, according to our partners at the Denver Gazette.

Fines are appealable if there are financial hardships. However, if you get enough violations, you could have your water turned off or you will be fined at the third level, again.

If you receive a violation, you will have seven days to correct the violation. Commercial users will have three days to correct it.

The city said they have metering technology that allows them to track water use in real time, and that irrigation systems should stay off until May 1. If your system is already on, city officials said to turn it off.

As of March 31, Aurora Water said reservoir storage is at 58% capacity. Then with this year’s bad snowpack, the spring runoff won’t help much to raise that.

Aurora’s water restrictions come after other cities across the metro area have moved to restrict and enforce water use, which includes Denver and Thornton. Westminster is also set to talk about how to respond to drought conditions at a meeting Tuesday.

This article includes reporting from the Denver Gazette.