🕒 Created · Updated

Denver Water officials declare mandatory lawn watering ban starting October 1 to combat ongoing drought conditions.

Denver Water officials declared a mandatory end to the outdoor lawn watering season on October 1 to address worsening drought conditions in the region. This measure, the first time the organization has issued such a ban since the 2002 drought, requires residents to stop watering grass and using spray irrigation after the deadline. While gardens and trees may still be hand-watered, high-traffic areas like sports fields and parks are exempt under approved variances. Tyrone Gant, President of the Denver Board of Water Commissioners, stated that the drought has worsened over the summer, making additional steps necessary to stretch supplies as storage levels fall below normal. Currently, reservoirs are at 72% capacity, significantly lower than the historic median of 94% for this time of year. The administration of the water board aims to reduce system-wide water use by 20%, though prolonged heat has made this target difficult to achieve. The ban remains in effect until the board determines when lawn watering can resume.

Sources