Overview
- Denver Water, which serves about 1.5 million people, declared a Stage 1 drought Wednesday in its first such action since 2013.
- Homes may water lawns only two days per week based on address, other properties are limited to Tuesdays and Fridays, and restaurants will serve water only upon request.
- Officials cited snowpack at 55% of normal in the Colorado River Basin and 42% in the South Platte, the worst in their records, with reservoirs at 80% versus an 85% seasonal average.
- The utility is seeking a 20% cut in use, developing enforcement plans, and preparing drought surcharges to curb high‑volume outdoor watering, while urging residents to keep sprinklers off until mid to late May and hand‑water trees as needed.
- Other Front Range providers have imposed or are weighing limits, and state leaders activated a drought task force after warnings that runoff could be among the lowest in 50 years.