Denver Water approves Oct. 1 ban on lawn watering, citing drought

Denver Water for the first time made Oct. 1 the hard cutoff for lawn watering for its 1.5 million customers, under threat of fines, saying 2026 so far is the hottest year ever recorded in the metro area and calling for drastic measures to preserve dwindling reservoirs. 

Customers may still irrigate on their designated two days a week through Sept. 30, the agency’s board ruled Wednesday, but will face warnings and fines for any use of irrigation sprinklers beyond that date. Limited hand watering will still be allowed. With no end to the drought in sight, the agency also warned the lawn watering cutoff is indefinite and will last at least through next spring, with summer 2027 rules depending on the coming snowpack. 

Denver’s storage reservoirs are only 72% full after weeks of 90-degree-plus weather, at a time of year they are usually more than 90% full. In the spring, after recording record-low snowpack during the 2025-26 winter, Denver Water set a target of a 20% reduction in systemwide water use over the past five-year average. Yet the first few months of restrictions brought only 2% savings, edging up to about 7% now but not close to the goal. 

“Despite the blistering conditions, customers overall have reduced their water use this summer. But with a lack of precipitation and the hottest first seven months in the Denver region we’ve recorded, we must take this additional step,” said Denver Water chief Alan Salazar, after the board approved the fall cutoff. “It’s critical that our customers turn sprinklers off Oct. 1, so that we can extend our water supply.”

The utility emphasized that spring and early-summer runoff into key reservoirs this year was only 22% of the long-term average. 

Other rules announced Wednesday: 

• High-traffic, active-use grass areas, such as parks and school fields, may only be watered after Sept. 30 with an approved variance. Recycled water users can continue to irrigate any day of the week, following the standard watering rules.
• Trees, shrubs and perennials may be watered any day with a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle or low-volume, nonspray irrigation (such as a drip system).
• Annuals and vegetables may be watered any day with a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle or low-volume, nonspray irrigation, until the first frost.
• Grass establishment is not allowed after Sept. 30, except under special circumstances outlined under an approved variance.
• An irrigation system may be operated for installation, repair or reasonable maintenance, so long as the system is attended throughout the period of operation and water is not wasted.