Westminster, CO Water Use Rules: Leak Reporting Duty (2026)
Key Facts
- Violation
- Failure to repair leaking irrigation, § 8-7-25(A)(2)
- Enforcer
- Director of Public Works and Utilities
- Compliance deadline
- 30 days after violation notice
- 2nd violation fine
- $50 added to water bill
- 3rd+ violation
- $100 fine, possible service suspension
Summary
Westminster treats an unrepaired leaking irrigation system as unlawful water waste under Code Section 8-7-25(A)(2). The Director of Public Works and Utilities enforces it with a written warning first, then escalating $50 and $100 fines added to the water bill.
8-7-25. - Waste of Water. (A)Waste of Water is Prohibited: Waste of water is defined as the intentional or non-intentional use of water for a non-beneficial purpose, and includes:...(2)Failure to repair any irrigation system that is leaking;...(B)The Director of Public Works and Utilities is hereby authorized to enforce this section. The person billed for water service to a property, whether owner or occupant, shall be responsible for compliance with subsections (A) and (B) within 30 days of the violation notice, unless otherwise specified by the Director of Public Works and Utilities, and shall be subject to the following actions and penalties:(1)Upon a first violation, the person billed will be advised in writing of the violation and issued a warning for the violation. The warning shall be in effect for a period of one year from the date of issue.(2)A second violation within a one-year period shall result in...a charge of $50.00 will be added to the water bill for the property.(3)A third or additional violation within a one-year period shall result in...a charge of $100.00 will be added to the water bill for the property...the City Manager, or their designee, may order a suspension of service to the property until all outstanding fines are paid.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12).
Full Breakdown
defines 'waste of water' to include several specific conditions: continuous watering that pools or flows into storm drains, hoses without an automatic shutoff valve, single-pass cooling systems, and, under subsection (A)(2), the failure to repair any irrigation system that is leaking. Subsection (B) puts the Director of Public Works and Utilities in charge of enforcement and makes the person billed for water service, whether owner or occupant, responsible for fixing the problem within 30 days of a violation notice unless the Director specifies otherwise. C.
If the property owner's address differs from the billed occupant, the code also requires the City to mail the owner a copy of any notice. Subsection (C) gives the person cited the right to appeal in writing within 30 days, with an informal hearing before the City Manager or designee where the City carries the burden of proving the violation by a preponderance of the evidence.
Violations & Fines
A leaking irrigation system left unrepaired draws a written warning for a first offense, a $50.00 charge added to the water bill for a second offense within a year, and a $100.00 charge plus possible water service suspension for a third or later offense, under Section 8-7-25(B), W.M.C. A written appeal is available within 30 days of the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a leaking sprinkler system illegal in Westminster?
What happens the first time I'm cited for a leak?
What's the fine for repeat leak violations?
How long do I have to fix a reported leak?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
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How other cities in Adams County handle leak reporting duty.