Denver-Area Cities Implement Water Restrictions Amid Severe Drought

Residents in several Denver metro municipalities face mandatory limits on lawn watering and other water usage as drought conditions worsen.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:50am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted earth tones, depicting a vast, cracked and parched expanse of land under a dramatic, hazy sky, conveying the overwhelming scale and severity of the drought conditions impacting the region.As drought grips the Denver metro area, mandatory water restrictions aim to conserve dwindling supplies and prevent more severe shortages.Denver Today

As severe drought continues to impact the Denver metro area, many cities and towns have implemented mandatory water restrictions to reduce usage by 20% or more. Residents in places like Denver, Aurora, Arvada, and Highlands Ranch are now limited to watering lawns on just two assigned days per week, with no watering allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Some municipalities have also introduced drought surcharges for high water users.

Why it matters

The ongoing drought in Colorado has severely depleted snowpack and reservoir levels, forcing local governments to take action to conserve limited water supplies. These restrictions aim to prevent more severe water shortages, but they also impact residents' daily lives and could have broader economic consequences if the drought persists.

The details

The water restrictions vary somewhat by municipality, but most are implementing a Stage 1 drought declaration that limits lawn watering to two assigned days per week, with no watering allowed during the hottest parts of the day. Some cities like Broomfield and Thornton have additional requirements, such as prohibiting sprinkler use until May 1 and mandating repairs for water leaks. Violators could face warnings or fines in certain areas.

  • In March 2026, Denver Water declared a Stage 1 drought and 20% reduction in water use.
  • On April 15, 2026, Stage 1 mandatory water restrictions will go into effect in Arvada.
  • On Tuesday, April 11, 2026, the city of Aurora declared a Stage 1 drought and implemented water restrictions.
  • On January 1, 2025, a Water Use Ordinance went into effect in Broomfield, limiting lawn watering to 3 days per week.
  • On March 25, 2026, mandatory watering restrictions were imposed on Denver Water customers, including surrounding cities.

The players

Denver Water

The public water utility that provides services to Denver and surrounding municipalities, including Centennial, Greenwood Village, Lakewood, Littleton, and Wheat Ridge.

City of Aurora

A major city in the Denver metro area that declared a Stage 1 drought on April 11, 2026, seeking a 20% reduction in water use.

City of Arvada

A Denver suburb that will implement Stage 1 mandatory water restrictions on April 15, 2026, limiting lawn watering to two days per week.

City of Broomfield

A Denver-area city that implemented a Water Use Ordinance in 2025, restricting lawn watering to 3 days per week.

City of Highlands Ranch

A community in the Denver metro area that is under Stage 1 drought restrictions, seeking a 15-20% reduction in water use.

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What they’re saying

“As severe drought conditions continue, water restrictions are already in place across many Denver metro area municipalities, with more on the way.”

— Parker Gordon, Author

What’s next

FOX31 will continue to monitor the drought situation and update this article as more Denver-area cities and towns implement water restrictions.

The takeaway

The worsening drought in Colorado has forced local governments across the Denver metro region to take aggressive action to conserve limited water supplies, with mandatory restrictions on lawn watering and other usage. These measures aim to prevent more severe shortages, but they also highlight the growing strain on water resources in the state.