Some sprinkler systems have already kicked on for the lawn watering season but Denver Water wants you to know that 2014 rules for outdoor water use begin on Thursday, May 1, and will continue until October 1.
Under the rules:
- Water during cooler times of the day - lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- Water no more than three days per week
- Do not allow water to pool in gutters, streets and alleys
- Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete or 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 spokesperson Travis Thompson says mountain snowpack has been good this year and Denver Water's reservoirs are expected to fill this season. Nevertheless, he says, conservation rules are necessary.
"In years like this where we have seen some moisture and we’re in a much better position, we want to make sure that everyone is still aware of where we live and that water-wise practices are necessary in our community," Thompson says.
Thompson adds that Denver Water customers have successfully cut their water use about 20 percent since the last drought began in 2002. However, that success combined with the relatively normal year we've had in terms of precipitation should not distract us from the fact that we live in a dry part of the country.
"Water conservation – it’s not a drought response," Thompson says. "It really has to be a permanent way of life for all of us. Living here in Denver, in Colorado, we are in a very dry climate and we never know when next dry period is going to come and when it does come, we never know how long it’s going to last."
Denver Water's enforcement officers will be monitoring to make sure residents know the rules. People who refuse to follow the water restrictions could face a $100 fine.
