When will City Council vote on a drought resolution?

City Council will vote on the proposed water shortage resolution on April 6. 

What does Stage 1 Drought mean?

Aurora’s Water Shortage Response Plan outlines several drought stages and based on water supply and forecasts, it prescribes various steps that should be taken to reduce water usage. By proactively implementing progressive restrictions, we can hopefully avoid more drastic measures.

During Stage 1 watering is limited to no more than two assigned days per week, with no watering permitted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. These dates are based on the last digit of your address. To review your assigned days please visit our Watering Times page.

As always, our city ordinances are written with conservation in mind. They prohibit water wasting, which includes watering so much that it pools; watering onto sidewalks, driveways or streets; failure to repair a leaking irrigation system or letting water run unrestricted from the hose.

How will water customers be notified of drought stages?

Aurora Water will notify customers by mail of the drought stage change and will provide information on any watering restrictions that might be in place. Updates will also be provided on our website, Aurora’s Water social media channels (Twitter @AuroraWaterCO, Facebook @AuroraWater and NextDoor.com), the city’s News Aurora newsletter that accompanies the water bill and This is Aurora email newsletter.

Since we’re in a drought, should I just stop watering my lawn?

Now would be a great time to replace your lawn with a low water-use water-wise landscape, but you don’t need to stop watering if you have functional, healthy turf. Adhere to the requirements of the current drought stage. We recommend following the guidance on our Watering Times page. During the hottest months of the summer, your lawn can go dormant (not dead). Check out this article for tips on letting your grass go dormant. Enter dormancy article link here. If you're tired of mowing or have grass you never use, consider our Grass Replacement Incentive Program and let us help you turn that thirsty lawn into a beautiful water-wise landscape.

Can I hand water?

You may water flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables as long as you use a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Watering of any turf lawn must adhere to the drought stage watering times regardless of whether you water by hand or use an automated sprinkler system.

I live in a covenant-controlled neighborhood that requires me to keep my lawn green. What should I do?

Aurora Water will be contacting homeowners’ associations to explain how droughts and watering restrictions affect lawns.

Stage 1 drought requires all types of properties to reduce their watering days to twice per week. Per Aurora city code, homeowner's associations cannot penalize residents for yellowing turf lawns because of watering restrictions. 

I have a tree in my yard. Do I have to water it differently?

Visit our Parks Recreation and Open Space Department's Forestry page for more information on how to take care of your tree(s).

How do I report a watering violation?

You can call our Water Conservation Hotline at 303.739.7195 or file a report online using the Access Aurora app or at Aurorawater.org.

How much water should I be using?

Generally, for indoor water usage, you should expect to use 1,200-1,500 gallons per month for each person in the house. 

What else can I do to conserve water and can I get help?

Water Conservation offers a host of free programs to help reduce water use at any Aurora property.  
If you're with a homeowners' association or multifamily property, we can also help you conduct outreach to your residents. We have conservation resources tailored especially to you. LINK

Visit Water Conservation for details on all our conservation programs.

Wasn’t Prairie Waters built to protect us from droughts like this?

Prairie Waters, which reuses our water rights by recapturing them from the South Platte, helps us fully utilize our mountain water. This helps us better manage our water supply and provides a buffer during extended droughts. No system, however, can protect us completely during extreme conditions. 

Where can I get additional information?

Aurora Water will host two community meetings. One on April 14 and the second on April 15. Times and locations for these meetings will be posted on our website, Aurora’s Water social media channels (Twitter @AuroraWaterCO, Facebook @AuroraWater and NextDoor.com).