Aurora-APS water dispute remains unresolved as drought restrictions continue

Aurora’s Stage 1 drought restrictions remain in effect while the city and Aurora Public Schools dispute whether irrigation practices at nine school sites meet conservation expectations.

The immediate issue is enforcement, not a confirmed service shutoff. Aurora Water’s current guidance lists Aurora as being in Stage 1, while reporting from the Denver Gazette and CBS Colorado does not establish that the city has cut irrigation service at any APS property.

What Aurora’s Stage 1 rules require

The Aurora City Council approved the Stage 1 drought declaration at its April 6, 2026, meeting after continuing drought, low snowpack and reduced reservoir levels put pressure on the city’s water supply.

The city’s general Stage 1 rules limit irrigation of high-water-use grass to two days per week and prohibit outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Aurora has also set a broader goal of reducing water use by 20% among residents, businesses and city facilities.

Stage 1 restrictions also cover water waste, including irrigation leaks, water pooling, watering sidewalks or streets and unrestricted hose use. The city’s public guidance lists a drought surcharge for residential, multifamily and commercial use above 110% of a customer’s winter-quarter average. Aurora Water has also described surcharges for irrigation accounts as part of the drought response.

Why APS became a flashpoint

Mayor Mike Coffman raised the dispute after saying he saw very green lawns at Rangeview High School and other APS properties. In a July 9 report, the Denver Gazette quoted Aurora Water as saying June usage data showed nine of the district’s 61 sites were out of compliance with the city’s watering expectations.

APS is a large water user and is part of Aurora Water’s variance program. The program can allow large irrigators to stagger watering across multiple properties. Under the explanation provided by Aurora Water, a participant may water on different days, but no individual irrigation zone may be watered more than two days per week and the user must stay within set water-use parameters.

Aurora Water said the nine sites would receive warnings. Coffman warned that irrigation service could eventually be shut off at schools that remain noncompliant. Aurora Water said any such shutoff would apply to outdoor irrigation, not water used inside school buildings. The city’s enforcement sequence can include warnings, fines and, eventually, service termination.

APS says it is following an approved plan

APS says it is taking the drought seriously and following a conservation plan developed with Aurora Water. The district says the approved plan targets a 20% reduction in water use and limits outdoor watering to two days per week.

APS also says it has not received fines for excessive water use. Aurora Water told the Denver Gazette that no fines had been issued to APS at the time of the reporting, although the nine flagged sites were expected to receive warnings. CBS Colorado reported that Aurora Water described the additional charges as surcharges rather than fines.

That leaves an important distinction for residents: APS’s districtwide conservation plan does not, by itself, prove that every school site met the city’s expectations. At the same time, the city’s identification of nine sites does not mean a formal penalty or irrigation shutoff has already occurred.

What remains unresolved

The dispute could turn on whether APS brings the nine sites into compliance and whether Aurora Water keeps the district in its variance program. Available reporting does not confirm that Aurora has shut off irrigation service at any APS school.

Residents should watch for official updates about warnings, penalties, irrigation shutoffs or any move from Stage 1 to stricter drought restrictions. For now, Aurora residents remain subject to the city’s outdoor watering limits, including two days per week for high-water-use grass and no watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Sources

• Aurora Water: Current Stage 1 drought restrictions
• Denver Gazette: Aurora mayor warns APS over irrigation
• CBS Colorado: APS says it is following an approved conservation plan