Aurora City Council may approve a resolution Monday that will allow for Stage 1 water restrictions to go into effect.
AURORA, Colo. — Water managers across Colorado are raising concerns about dwindling supplies as unseasonably warm temperatures and low snowpack continue to strain resources, prompting new restrictions in multiple communities.
The Aurora Water Policy Committee met Wednesday to discuss the state of the water supply. Aurora Water said reservoir storage is at 58% capacity, signaling potential challenges ahead.
“We’re not in a good situation,” water resource project manager John Murphy said.
Officials warned that without significant improvement, conditions could worsen.
“Our water supply situation is bleak enough that if things don’t improve and we don’t get the community response we need during a Stage 1 restriction, the forecasts indicate we may be in a Stage 2 restriction by the end of the year, which would be really dramatic,” Murphy said. “None of us want to go there, but that’s how bleak our water supply situation is.”
Aurora plans to implement strict Stage 1 water restrictions pending City Council approval. The rules would limit sprinkler use to two days per week, with escalating enforcement.
If approved, restrictions would go into place April 7.
“This year we’re planning on strict enforcement, meaning one warning,” Aurora Water General Manager Marshall Brown said. “Number two violation is a fine of, I think, $250. Third violation is a $1,000 fine. So this ramps up pretty quickly and steeply. We’ll have the communication, but if people are not responsible and don’t adjust, they will be fined.”
City-managed landscapes will also be affected.
“All the grass in the city, that the city manages, needs to show the stress of less water,” Brown said.
Other Front Range communities are taking similar steps.
Erie is asking residents, businesses and HOAs to stop using sprinklers until April 4, citing limited winter water supply. Officials warned noncompliance could result in water taps being shut off.
Denver Water is also expected to enact Stage 1 drought restrictions this week, urging residents to delay turning on irrigation systems.
Westminster is set to discuss how it’s responding to drought conditions at an upcoming April 7 meeting.