Denver Water's annual summer watering rules limit lawn irrigation to three days per week, prohibit watering between 10am and 6pm, ban runoff onto pavement, and require fixing visible leaks within ten days. Drought stages add further restrictions.
Denver Water, the city-owned water utility, imposes summer watering rules every year from May 1 through October 1. Customers may water no more than three days per week, never between 10am and 6pm, and must avoid runoff onto streets, alleys, and sidewalks. Hand-watering of trees and gardens is allowed any time with a shutoff nozzle. Drip irrigation is encouraged and unrestricted by time of day. Drought-stage rules (Stage 1, 2, or 3) tighten frequency and add surcharges. Customers must repair visible leaks and broken sprinklers within ten days of notice. Denver Water enforces by patrol, neighbor reports, and account review, with violations published as part of the utility's annual conservation report.
First violations get warnings. Repeat violations carry surcharges of $250-$2,000 per occurrence depending on customer class, plus possible flow-restrictor installation or service suspension under Denver Water Operating Rules.
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