Denver Water declares Stage 1 drought, implements mandatory watering restrictions for summer 2026

At the Denver Board of Water Commissioners’ meeting on March 25, commissioners decided to implement mandatory watering restrictions across its service area, effective immediately, after declaring a Stage 1 drought.

Denver Board of Water Commissioners president Tyrone Gant said of the decision, “a tremendous amount of thought and care went into this declaration, and it is the right decision for our organization and for our community.”

Gant asked everyone within the affected service area to “help out” in summer 2026 in case drought conditions persists into 2027 and beyond.

What you will need to do this summer

Denver Water customers in single-family residential properties may water NO MORE THAN two days per week and must follow a set schedule:

• Addresses ending in EVEN numbers water on Sundays and Thursdays
• Addresses ending in ODD number water on Wednesdays and Saturdays

All other customers, including multi-family properties, commercial properties, homeowners associations and government properties may water on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Denver Water customers must follow the summer guide of watering rules that incorporates best practices for efficient outdoor water use:

• Water during cooler times of the day — lawn watering is NOT allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
• Water two days per week, adding a third day only when needed. (Watering more than three days is not allowed.)
• Do not allow water to pool in gutters, streets and alleys.
• Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete and asphalt.
• Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.
• Do not irrigate while it is raining or during high winds.
• Use a hose nozzle with a shut-off valve when washing your car.

“Denver Water depends on mountain snowpack for its water supply, and this winter was unusually warm and did not deliver the snow we need,” CEO of Denver Water Alan Salazar said. “This drought is also a reminder of the impacts of climate change on our water supply. The good news is that our customers have done a remarkable job reducing water use over the last decades.”

Denver Water’s Manager of Supply, Nathan Elder said on March 24, “The snowpack within Denver Water’s collection system has deteriorated significantly and continues to decline” …and… “Snowpack levels in both basins (Colorado and South Platte rivers) are now the lowest observed in the past 40 years, with accelerated melting underway. The conditions we are experiencing are unprecedented.”

Elder said the collection areas are short from between 7 to 8 feet of snow and that “it would take a tremendous amount of snow to recover at this point.”

Denver Water said the declaration seeks a 20% reduction in water use for 2026, a decision the agency hopes will help preserve reservoir storage going into 2027.

Denver Water said there is no need to turn on automatic watering systems until at least mid- to late-May.

Denver Water also said it is developing plans for enforcement of watering restrictions, along with proposed temporary drought pricing that places a premium on higher-volume outdoor water use while keeping the cost per gallon for essential indoor water use unchanged.

For additional information about Denver Water’s approach to drought response, click here.