Aurora's Water Use Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles water use rules a little differently. In Aurora, Colorado, there are 4 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Turf Replacement Rebates

Aurora Water offers rebates and technical assistance to customers who replace high-water turfgrass with low-water landscapes, helping the utility meet long-term demand goals as Colorado River supplies face structural shortage.

Key details: Incentive type: Per-square-foot rebate. Inspection: Pre and post. Eligible properties: Residential and commercial. State context: Non-functional turf reform.

There are no fines for keeping turf, but rebate participants who fail to maintain conversions or who replace approved plants with high-water varieties may be required to repay incentives.

The rules around turf replacement rebates in Aurora lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Recycled Water Rules

Aurora operates the Prairie Waters Project to reuse treated effluent and South Platte return flows, supplementing potable supply, and uses non-potable recycled water for parks, medians, and select industrial customers under state regulations.

Key details: Reuse asset: Prairie Waters Project. Non-potable color: Purple pipe. State rule: Regulation 84. Common uses: Parks and industry.

Cross-connection violations, unauthorized use, or missing signage can lead to citations, service shutoff, and remediation orders by Aurora Water and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Lawn Watering Restrictions

Aurora Water enforces a tiered outdoor-watering schedule that limits residential and commercial irrigation to specific days and hours, conserving Colorado River and South Platte supplies during the high-demand summer season.

Key details: Season: May to October. Daytime ban: Mid-morning to evening. Days per week: Two to three typical. Enforcement: Aurora Water.

Violations begin with warnings and escalate to fines, often starting at modest amounts and increasing for repeat offenses. Severe drought stages can include surcharge billing and stricter penalty structures.

This is one of the stricter rules in Aurora's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Leak Reporting Duty

Aurora Water encourages customers to report visible leaks promptly, offers leak-adjustment credits in qualifying cases, and uses smart-meter alerts to flag continuous flow that may indicate plumbing or irrigation problems on private property.

Key details: Adjustment policy: One-time per account typically. Detection tool: Smart-meter alerts. Reporting channel: Utility hotline. Enforcement trigger: Persistent waste.

Wasting water through unrepaired leaks can lead to warnings and fines under outdoor-use enforcement, and unauthorized use of fire hydrants or theft of water service is prosecuted as a separate offense.

Aurora is more permissive than most cities when it comes to leak reporting duty. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Aurora gives residents more room on water use rules. 2 of the 4 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

Keep in mind that Aurora can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.