Denver Water’s June bills now include temporary drought charges
June Denver Water bills now reflect May water use, with drought charges on higher outdoor use, indoor essentials exempt, and watering limits still in force.
Denver Water customers are starting to see temporary drought charges on June bills, which reflect May water use. The extra charge is not a permanent rate hike. It is part of Denver Water’s Stage 1 drought response and is set to remain in place through April 30, 2027, unless the board changes it.
For residential customers, Tier 1 use is exempt because Denver Water treats it as essential indoor water use. The temporary drought charge starts at $1.10 per 1,000 gallons in Tier 2 and rises to $2.20 in Tier 3. For businesses and other nonresidential customers, the board set drought charges on higher-use tiers and irrigation use as well.
The board adopted the drought-pricing resolution on April 8. According to Denver Water, the charges apply to bills dated June 1, 2026 through April 30, 2027, and are added on top of existing water rates. The goal is to push higher outdoor use lower while keeping indoor water affordable.
Who is most likely to pay more
The customers most likely to notice the change are households and businesses with heavy outdoor irrigation. A large yard, frequent sprinkler cycles or summer commercial watering can push a bill into the charged tiers. Everyday indoor use such as showers, laundry and cooking is not what the drought charge is aimed at.
That is also why Denver Water is still enforcing its two-day watering limit. Under Stage 1 drought rules, grass watering is limited to two days per week on assigned days, and that restriction stays in force through April 30, 2027 unless the board acts again. Trees, shrubs and perennials follow different rules.
The broader drought picture
The local billing change comes as Colorado remains under drought stress. Gov. Jared Polis declared a statewide drought emergency on June 4, and Denver Water’s June 15 supply update said reservoir storage was 81% full, below the 95% average for this time of year.
The state declaration did not set Denver Water’s rates, but it does show how widespread the dry conditions are. Denver Water says customers should still watch irrigation schedules, skip watering after rain and avoid overwatering as the summer irrigation season ramps up.
