Highlands Ranch Water Keeps Stage 1 Rules, With Higher Rates Above Budgets

Highlands Ranch Water is continuing Stage 1 drought restrictions after reporting extreme drought conditions in its service area on July 23, 2026. The utility said reservoir levels were at 52% and customer demand was 2% above predicted levels in that update.

For customers within the Highlands Ranch Water service area, the restrictions have been in effect since April 1, 2026. They limit outdoor irrigation to two assigned days each week and support a conservation target of reducing overall water use by 15% to 20%.

Two watering days remain in effect

Residents should check the watering schedule assigned to their property rather than assuming any two days are allowed. The limits apply to outdoor irrigation within the utility’s service area, which does not automatically include every address in the broader Highlands Ranch area or every property in Douglas County.

The conservation target is a goal for reducing demand, not a statement that the utility has already achieved a 15% to 20% reduction. Customers can help by adjusting irrigation schedules, checking for leaks and avoiding unnecessary outdoor watering.

Higher rates apply only above the property’s budget

Stage 1 does not mean every customer receives a higher water bill. Highlands Ranch Water assigns each property an individualized water budget. The drought-rate increase applies only when residential use exceeds that budget.

According to the utility’s 2026 rate schedule, residential use from 101% to 120% of the individualized budget is listed at $9.58 per 1,000 gallons during Stage 1, compared with a normal rate of $7.66. Use from 121% to 140% of budget is listed at $14.54 per 1,000 gallons, compared with a normal rate of $11.63.

That distinction is important for households planning summer water use: staying within the assigned budget avoids the Stage 1 excess-use rate increase described by the utility. Customers who routinely exceed their budgets may see substantially higher charges for the additional water.

What larger properties should monitor

HOAs, schools, businesses and other property managers may need to coordinate irrigation schedules across multiple landscaped areas and monitor shared or commercial accounts. The same basic concern applies to large properties managed by the Highlands Ranch Metro District where irrigation demand is significant: watering schedules and account-level budgets should be reviewed together.

The utility’s service-area information also references ongoing well maintenance near Paintbrush Park. That notice should not be read as a new water-supply project, a service interruption or a completed improvement. The current drought update instead centers on conservation, reservoir levels and demand above the utility’s prediction.

For residents, the immediate steps are straightforward: verify the property’s assigned watering days, check the individualized water budget and monitor usage before the account moves into an excess-use tier. Stage 1 restrictions are described as current as of the utility’s July 23 update; they are not permanent rules.

Sources

• Highlands Ranch Water: July 23, 2026, Drought Conditions Update
• Highlands Ranch Water 2026 Rates Schedule
• Highlands Ranch Community Association July 2026 Newsletter