Centennial residents who are customers of the Denver Water Department are facing mandatory watering restrictions starting April 1st.
The Denver Board of Water Commissioners declared a Stage 2 drought and has restricted residential watering to two days a week. President of the Denver Water Board of Commissioners Greg Austin says the ongoing drought and lack of snowpack this year is forcing the Stage 2 drought declaration, something that hasn’t happened in 11 years.
“The last time we declared a Stage 2 drought was in 2002. We are facing a more serious drought now than we faced then. Our goal this summer is to insure the availability of high-quality water to our citizens, given current conditions and an unknowable end to the drought cycle, protecting not only the quality of life of our community but also the long-term security of our city’s system,” said Austin.
Single-family homes with even numbered addresses can water on Sunday and Thursdays. Homes with odd numbered addresses can water on Saturday and Wednesdays. All other properties can water on Tuesday and Fridays.
Denver Water says the standard watering rules will also be in effect, such as no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and excessive spraying onto concrete sidewalks and driveways. Denver Water encourages customers to conserve water during the high usage summer months and will have drought patrols out to help educate customers who may be wasting water.
“The purpose of our drought patrol is as much about educating customers as it is about enforcing Denver Water’s rules,“ Jim Lochhead, CEO/manager of Denver Water said. “As we have in previous years, our monitors will have face-to-face interactions with customers to discuss our restrictions, “ he added.
Customers who receive repeated watering notices would be subject to Stage 2 drought fines which start at $250 for a single-family residential customer who has previously received a written warning.
Denver Water has also enacted a temporary Stage 2 drought pricing schedule and plans to cut its own expenses to make up for the lost revenue. Denver Water says customers will see the pricing on or after the June 1st bills.
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