Aurora water conservation: Stage 2 drought rules could tighten soon

Aurora residents are already under Stage 1 drought conservation. City rules limit outdoor irrigation to two days per week and prohibit non-drip outdoor watering during the 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. window, while the city adds drought surcharges and escalating penalties for violations. Local reporting also suggests Aurora could move to Stage 2—which would tighten outdoor watering further to one day per week—if water-supply conditions worsen.

Stage 1: the outdoor watering schedule Aurora residents follow now

Under the city’s Stage 1 shortage rules, the allowed watering days depend on your property type and the last digit of your address.

• Two irrigation days per week (residential addresses):
  • Even-numbered addresses (single-family/duplex, triplex, fourplex): Thursday and Sunday
  • Odd-numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday
• Two irrigation days per week (multi-family/large properties):
  • Multi-family HOA common areas, nonresidential, and other large unit/multiunit properties: Tuesday and Friday
• No non-drip outdoor watering 10 a.m.–6 p.m.: This blackout applies from May 1 to Sept. 30 (even during Normal restrictions), with limited exceptions for permitted new sod/seed installation.

Stage 1 landscaping and water-use limits (beyond the watering days)

Stage 1 isn’t just a calendar—it also restricts specific kinds of outdoor water use.

• High-water-use grass: City guidance says irrigation of high-water-use grass is limited to two days per week.
• Cool-weather turf / new lawns: The city lists “no new cool-weather turf” as a Stage 1 measure, and the WSRP explains that new turf installations are handled through the plan’s lawn-permit framework (so residents planning a new lawn should check the WSRP details and permit requirements).
• Private pools: Filling isn’t allowed; topping off pools that are already full is allowed. Community/shared pools remain allowed in Stage 1.
• Decorative water features: Not permitted.
• “Water waste” rules: Restrictions cover issues like water pooling, watering sidewalks/streets, irrigation leaks, and unrestricted hose use.
• Restaurants: Water should be served only upon request from patrons.

Drought surcharges and penalties: what could cost more under Stage 1

The city ties Stage 1 to drought surcharges for excess use and charges for violations. The city’s Stage 1 drought guidance lists a $2.15 surcharge per 1,000 gallons for applicable excess-use tiers.

On the enforcement side, the city posts a penalty progression for conservation-measure violations: the first violation is a warning, with subsequent violations leading to increasing charges.

How Aurora enforces Stage 1 (and what it means for residents)

Enforcement increasingly uses data. Colorado Public Radio reports Aurora uses smart water meter data to identify possible overwatering during mandatory restriction windows (including early-morning patterns), with humans verifying the data before sending warnings or fines. CPR also reports meters transmit data every 15 minutes.

Practical takeaway: set irrigation timers correctly, don’t rely on “it was probably too dark to tell” assumptions, and avoid watering during the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. blackout window.

If Stage 2 is triggered/adopted: the key change is one day per week

Stage 2 is not currently described as automatic. The WSRP sets out how Aurora could move to a more severe stage, including changes recommended by the General Manager and adopted through a Water Shortage Resolution.

If Stage 2 goes into effect, the WSRP’s most visible change for residents is:

• Outdoor watering would drop to one day per week:
  • Even-numbered addresses (single-family/duplex, triplex, fourplex): Sundays
  • Odd-numbered addresses: Saturdays
  • Multi-family/HOA common areas, nonresidential, other large unit/multiunit properties: Tuesdays
• Mondays would become no-watering for most customers: The WSRP says Mondays are set aside for Aurora Parks and Open Space needs and Aurora Water needs, and for all other customer classes Mondays are enforced as a no watering day.
• Residential turf would tighten: The WSRP table shows turf irrigation for residential properties would fall from 2 days/week (Stage 1) to 1 day/week (Stage 2), and new turf installations would not be allowed in Stage 2.
• Pool and water-feature impacts: The WSRP indicates outdoor swimming pool filling would move to not allowed under Stage 2, while water feature operations remain not allowed across the later stages (Stage 1 already restricts them).

What to watch next—and what residents can do now

The WSRP lays out the decision pathway and the monitoring process. It describes an ongoing Water Supply Watch Team process that reviews supply conditions (including storage and expected spring runoff tied to snowpack/weather), demand, and operational constraints. If supply levels remain concerning after mitigation efforts, the General Manager can recommend a change in stage for City Council adoption via a Water Shortage Resolution. The WSRP also describes customer notification through direct mail and City channels like NewsAurora and the City website.

Even while Stage 2 is only a possibility, you can reduce the risk of accidental noncompliance:

• Double-check irrigation timers to match your Stage 1 watering day(s).
• Don’t water during the 10 a.m.–6 p.m. window (May 1–Sept. 30).
• Keep turf and pool rules in mind—especially if you’re considering a new lawn installation or pool filling.
• Track city updates so you’re ready if Aurora moves from Stage 1 to Stage 2.

The best time to prepare for a possible tightening is before the schedule changes. If Aurora does move to Stage 2, your outdoor irrigation day could shift—and the rules around turf and pool filling would be even less flexible.

Sources

• City of Aurora — Drought (Stage 1 rules, surcharges, penalties, and what’s prohibited)
• Denverite — Reporting on Aurora/Denver water goals and whether Stage 2 is coming
• Colorado Public Radio (KUNC) — Smart-meter enforcement in Aurora and potential tightening toward Stage 2

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